How I Escaped an Abusive Relationship

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This is a true story of how I escaped an abusive relationship.

I was in my early twenties, we were always on the run, moving from place to place. Like clockwork, every few months, I would find a new apartment, and my husband would get us thrown out.

He was addicted to Marijuana and spent what little money we had to purchase drugs. He claimed Marijuana calmed his nerves and when he didn’t have any, he became enraged. The slightest thing made him angry, and the target for releasing his inner rage was always me.

Living in fear was a daily and at times hourly struggle. The mental, emotional, and physical abuse became unbearable after three and one-half years.

I lived in fear of his abuse every minute of every day. Watching everything I said and my actions around him. Trying not to make him angry at me. At the time, I believed his anger was somehow my fault.

The Motel

After losing another apartment, social services paid for us to live in a Motel in Malta, N.Y. The Motel was located on a long stretch of road in a desolate area. The proprietor of the Motel owned a small Bar out in the front.

Not owning a car or knowing how to drive made it difficult to care for two children and shop for groceries. Not to mention, the room was small, and only had two beds and a bathroom.

Those were the hardest times in life for me. After signing a paper giving my husbands mother temporary custody of our two children. I was all alone without children or family to help me. I believed no one cared about or loved me.

Then things began to change for the better. The owner offered me a job cleaning the hotel rooms in the morning and Bartending during the afternoon.

I accepted the job!

Independence

My husband was stuck in the Motel room, hiding in fear of being discovered. The probation department was looking for him since he missed his scheduled monthly meeting.

This gave me a little freedom outside of our Motel room. And independence from my husbands controlling grip of abuse. Within a few weeks, my husband wanted me to steal money from the Bar. And to bring strange men into our room so he could rob them.

I became even more frightened. I didn’t want to hurt anyone or go to jail. One day, I called my husbands family for help, and no one came.

HOw I Escaped an Abusive Relationship

I lost hope that anyone would give me a hand. However, God was watching over me and had a plan to rescue me. One afternoon a kind gentleman who was a regular customer asked;

“would you like to come to my parent’s house to visit and go for a walk or something.”

He and everyone else at the Bar thought my husband was gone. I jumped at the chance to get away.

I told him YES!

Within minutes, he brought his car around back, and I jumped in. As soon as he started driving away, I hit the floor in fear and said;

“please you got to get me out of here, he is still in the room, and he is going to kill me if you don’t help me.”

The gripping fear had shaken me. I didn’t know what else to do.

This kind man did help me. He took me to his parent’s house, and feed me dinner. I weighed a mere 105lbs. His parents let me shower, and gave me some clothes to wear. He slept on the living room couch and let me sleep in his bed for the night.

The next day he drove me to a Woman’s Shelter in Albany about 50 miles away. I don’t even remember his name. He was just a kind man looking for a date. A gentleman who helped me when I needed someone’s help the most.

I believe God was watching over me and used this man to help me escape an abusive relationship for good. God has always been with me throughout life. God has guided me along the narrow path; helping and correcting me each step of the way.

I praise the Lord for his saving grace.

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L.M. Carleton

Hi! I'm Linda, an abuse survivor rescued by grace. I write to raise awareness and encourage abuse victims to grow in wisdom and restore their lives. I conquered adversity by faith and worked caring for the elderly and physically and mentally challenged for twenty-plus years.

2 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing your story, Linda. My heart goes out to you. I’m so glad that the Lord helped set you free from your abusive husband. That man was an angel sent by God. Thanks for being you. You are beautiful

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