Caitie's Story: Dealing With An Abusive Relationship

From Michele: In life, we all strive for many of the same things, one of them being healthy and loving relationships. And while it sounds simple enough, oftentimes what was a healthy and loving relationship transforms. A healthy and loving relationship can quickly turn into a mentally or physically abusive one. And this was the case with Caitie. Let her tell you her story.

I fell in what I thought was love back in 2013, which was my freshman year of high school. I had just got over a breakup where I had been cheated on. Instead of crying about it like the little girl I was, I wanted revenge. Of course, that desire for revenge was motivated by my group of friends, but I wanted nothing more than to get back at the girl, who at the time, I felt stole my boyfriend.

Very childish, however, I was only 14 at that time.

My friends suggested that I go after this girl’s ex, and I did just that.

I wish I never did though, maybe I wouldn’t have gone through that pain. (Though today, I admire the person I am; I wouldn’t be that person if it weren’t for these experiences.)

After two months went by, I fell in love with him.

He was talented, handsome, and tall. Everything I thought I wanted.
As the months turn into years, it felt different, something had changed.
My sophomore year of high school was like Hell. My boyfriend wasn’t in the same grade as I as he was a Junior at this time.

But he still had a way of watching me.

We would compare schedules and one semester it was where both our classes were attached together by the construction room. One evening as we were waiting on the class to let out so we could make our way to the buses to go home, I was asked by a couple of boys and a girl to play Uno with them and I joined the game.

I got a text a few minutes later from him saying something on the lines of, “wow, I guess this means we are over.”

I frantically looked up and caught his eyes staring our way through the glass on the classroom door. I was in shock. That was the first time he had shown jealousy directly.

After that incident, anytime I would even be near another boy he would pull the guilt trip game. I lost so many of my friends.

A couple of years later, he found another guy’s number in my phone and that’s when it started. The hitting, the violence, the manipulation.

I needed to get out of that relationship, I knew I did, but I loved him. Plus, I was scared not only that no one else would love me, but because he threatened to kill himself or me every time I tried to leave.

Now, I don’t want to tell everything in this excerpt because I am currently writing a book on this subject and my story. But moral of it, don’t let a guy or even a girl, manipulate you. Don’t let your significant other hit you. That isn’t what love is.
Now, I am fully loved and know what truly is.