Mae’s Story
(This is a true story; however, the victim’s name has been changed.)

“My husband and I were high school sweethearts. He had a love for politics, sports, life, and he knew exactly where he was going. We had a perfect marriage—until that first hit.  At first, I took his behavior as total love and protection for me. He controlled my every action, my every move—even going to the bathroom. He was an awesome father to my children, but he was unbelievably mean to me.

One night he took me behind an abandoned warehouse; there, he raped me and beat me. I thought I would die there. I finally convinced him that if he killed me, our three kids would be homeless, and he would be in prison. I wanted to do everything I possibly could to keep my family together. When I finally decided to leave, I wanted to say I had given my marriage my all. I did everything I could and realized that it was not enough…I knew I had to go when I realized the message I was sending to my children about abuse.

After a horrible beating one night, I went to a local hospital and a representative from Interact met me there. They were a total support for me. Their assistance got me to the point of belief that I could make it on my own. I could be a single mom with three kids knowing that it’s possible to go on with my life...”

From personal stories of victims of domestic violence collected by Laura Hilton,
Director of Communications, Interact, Wake County
www.ncjournalforwomen.com/months/2005_months/may05/may05hilton.htm