I almost died when I was about four months pregnant at the hands of my son’s father. Like the speaker in this video, he strangled me. He lost his temper, blacked out, and almost killed me. I lied to my friends about the bruises. I lied to myself about it being a forgivable offense. I was lucky in his leaving me, even though I didn’t know it at the time.

My long term partner isn’t perfect. But he’s not a jealous man, and even when he is upset he doesn’t lay a hand on me. My children are lucky enough to have never seen a man hit me.

My oldest son recently lost a close friend to domestic violence. A young boy, age twelve, and his ten year old sister were shot by their own father in a murder-suicide incident. The mother was out of town with her family trying to make arrangements to move. She was trying to get out. She lost everything. And still people blamed her. It’s never as simple as “just get out of the situation,” but you have to try. Don’t hide abuse from your friends and loved ones- let them help you get out.