Kelsey’s Story, Part 2

Kelsey’s Story is in five weekly installments:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

“I remember while I was actively running that this was like one of those nightmares that you just can’t run fast enough in or wake up from.”

You see, he did all of this in front of the children & they were obviously beyond hysterical. As he left, in that moment I knew it was the only shot I would have to save my own life. So, I silently darted to the basement door, fled the house, scrambled my way over the privacy fence & ran. All with a newly broken neck.

I remember while I was actively running that this was like one of those nightmares that you just can’t run fast enough in or wake up from. I knocked on doors of houses desperate for anyone to help but no one did. I am not sure I would open the door for a hysterical person running around beating on doors at 3am either. Thankfully someone did call the police though.

Eventually the police arrived & I came out of someone’s shed where I was hiding. I was bruised, bloody, & crying. They took me to the hospital by ambulance.

I had been very conditioned by my abuser to believe that I was crazy amongst other things. Well in this moment as you could imagine I was extremely distraught. The deputy assured me I was safe now, they were going to find him & get my children, as I had fled the house without them. The deputy came with me to the hospital & after a short time I remember him delivering the news that my children were found unharmed. I could sense & appreciate that he genuinely cared. I even remembered explaining to the deputy that my abuser had previously been arrested for domestic violence in another state- & I’ll never forget what he said … “Well he’s in Virginia now. We don’t play around with this stuff.”

The amount of relief I felt that I knew I would finally be safe was just overwhelming.

But that night also left me feeling more confused, alone, afraid, & helpless than ever before. How was I going to get through life now with children & a broken neck & staples in my head? How am I going to go back to that place where this torture ensued daily? How am I going to tell my family what happened? Will they understand or even believe me?

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This ends Part 2 of Kelsey’s Story.
Kelsey’s Story is in five weekly installments:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic violence, please call Empowerhouse’s free, confidential 24-hour Hotline at (540) 373-9373.

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