Sharon watched her daughter, barely three, cringe as Carl ranted. The thought of anyone demeaning Ella the way Carl did Sharon, broke her heart.
Lifting Ella into her arms she hit send. Kara sent a hug emoji. Bags, tickets, and passports already in the car, Sharon walked out the door.
I sometimes like to use songs as prompts. This one was taken from Taylor Swift’s Begin Again, which tells the story of a woman discovering that love doesn’t have to hurt. It’s never too late to start again, never too late to find a new life.
Here’s a link to listen to the song:
I left my first husband for exactly this reason. I watched my daughters as their father sank into drugs and abuse and realized that what I did, how I reacted, was a lesson for them. I would be teaching them to give in or be strong, to be silent or speak up for themselves, to be abused or to walk away. I know why he fell into drugs and one day I will tell you his story because I think it is interesting. Those reasons are why I stayed as long as I did, I wanted to help him. When I realized I couldn't, I knew I had to leave. When I came home unexpectedly one day and found my children cowering in a corner, I knew it was time. I also realized that I, and my mother before me, were trained to stay regardless of how dark it was and mine was much darker than theirs. Now the girls know they can stay or go and choose not from fear but from that strength I know they have within them. We are their teachers just as we have been taught and it isn't anyone's fault... we all do the best we can. Good story!
Since I was a child I have been wondering why love hurts. I am still waiting for the answer.