I know it's hard. I was there. I was in love with someone, who hurt me.

I tried to tell myself he was actually a good person at his core. He had a hard life and just didn't know how to deal with his feelings appropriately. I thought if I loved him hard enough, I could help him. I could teach him to trust people and love back. I stayed on my best behaviour and did everything I could to please him. I was forgiving and strong and promised to never leave.

I tried to rationalize his reign of terror. I would lock myself in the bathroom and cry. I would look in the mirror an not recognize the face staring back at me. I've felt the cold floor on my cheek, too alone and scared to pick myself up. I've known what it is like to have your self esteem chipped away piece by piece, day by day, by someone who claims to love you. I gave my reflection pep talks, trying to convince her she deserved better and should leave. She was scared and thought "maybe this is as good as it gets."

I've known what it is like to feel like the only thing worse than leaving is staying and the only thing worse than staying is leaving. I know what it is like wishing someone would just come and tell me what I was supposed to do, where I needed to go. Silently suffering. Slowly dying inside. Praying. Looking for a sign.

If you're feeling the way I felt, wondering if there is anything better out there, the answer is yes. Yes, yes, yes! A million times over and over, absolutely YES!

There is so much better, so much more and so much you deserve! Don't give your life away to someone who makes you feel terrible. Someone who hurts you. Never ever feel guilty for standing up for yourself. You owe it to yourself, your children, your God and to that person you have not met yet, who wants to love you the right way. You are smarter than that. Don't stay.

Don't sit around, enduring the abuse and wait for someone to come save you. You need to do it. You know deep down something is not right. It will be so hard, trust me...I know. You will second guess yourself. You will be scared and it will hurt like hell. But you need to do it. It is the most important thing you will ever do. You need to leave. He is never going to change. Things will not get better if you stay. I know. I was there. I thought it was impossible, but I did it. I thought I would never find love, but I did. I thought I didn't deserve better, but I do.

And so do you.

Just do it. Leave. You will thank yourself later.