Silence

Silence….

They heard your side of the story.  And I was silent.

You painted a picture of the victim. And I was silent.

You told everyone that it was all me. And I was silent.

The whole town talked about me. And I was silent.

My friends turned against me. And I was silent.

My family didn’t believe me. And I was silent.

You blamed me for your misery. And I was silent.

Everyone thought you were a good guy. And I was silent.

But let’s start from the beginning.

You cussed me for talking to someone at work. And I was silent.

You screamed at me for waving at a friend from school. And I was silent.

You smashed my belongings. And I was silent.

You took my car keys. And I was silent.

You used a baseball bat to bust out my headlights. And I was silent.

You stood in the doorway so I couldn’t leave you. And I was silent.

You punched holes in the wall. And I was silent.

You broke my phone. And I was silent.

You ripped out my earring. And I was silent.

You told me I couldn’t talk to or visit my family. And I was silent.

You locked me out in the cold. And I was silent.

You left me in a parking lot with no money and no phone.  And I was silent.

You poured beer on me. And I was silent.

You told me that no one else would want me. And I was silent.

You called me fat, ugly, and stupid. And I was silent.

You rang my phone every 10 mins when I left the house. And I was silent.

You kept a record of the mileage on my car. And I was silent.

You called my work to make sure I was there. And I was silent.

You had your friends spying on me. And I was silent.

You kicked me after you pushed me to the floor. And I was silent.

You tried to choke me. And I was silent.

You spit on me. And I was silent.

You stalked me. And I was silent.

You threatened me. And I was silent.

You hurt me. And I was silent.

You took my children from me. And I was silent.

You took my life away for 12 years. And I was silent.

And then I left. Silently.

I packed up what I could while you were at work. Silently

I rented an apartment, bought a car and furniture. Silently

I filed for divorce. Silently

I walked away with nothing. Silently

I let you have the house, the cars, everything. Silently

I moved on with my life. Silently

I met a wonderful man, who loves me unconditionally. Silently

And you still live in that house of horrors. Alone

And for 5 years I put it behind me. In silence

Until she called….

To say you did the same thing to her. And I cried.

For the innocent girl you destroyed. And I cried

Because I am damaged. I am hard to love. I don’t trust.

I don’t think I am worthy of love.

I am always prepared for the worst.

I don’t let people in.

I cringe at loud voices.

I am scared of enclosed spaces.

I still have nightmares.

I thought I deserved the way you treated me.

Until she called….

And I cried. For her and for me, and for the silence I have kept for so long.

I cried for the others that live this way.

I cried for the ones who are brave, who don’t stay silent.

I cried for the ones that have yet to see the signs.

I cried for the ones that think they don’t have a choice.

And I cried until I couldn’t.

I dried my tears and realized that it was finally over.

You are in my past.

I can enjoy the silence.