I was backed into a corner. There was no way of escaping, the look in his eyes was furious. As I closed my eyes, to think of a happy place, he placed his hand around my throat. I began to gasp for air, and I no longer knew of what was happening. When I opened my eyes again, he was smacking me in the face trying to wake me up. I had tears running down my face in fear, not aware of what was going to happen next. I remember thinking to myself, what did I ever do to deserve this? Situations such as this one happen more often than perceived in society. Being in an abusive relationship is like being in a boxing ring; you constantly have to shuffle around to avoid being hit. Abuse within relationships has been considered a national crime. While some believe that the problem of domestic violence is exaggerated or does not merit punishment at all, others see the need for prevention and punishment but disagree on the appropriate scope of police and government interventions for both abusers and survivors.
Back during my freshman year in high school my dad had committed suicide on October 14th, 2008. Earlier during that same year my uncle died in his sleep on February 20th. Nunzio had walked into my life and made everything better; he was so nice and caring. He showed me a different way to deal with my hurt from not only my father, but also with my uncle. January 26th 2009, during 5th period I received a text from Nunzio randomly asking me out, telling me how embarrassed he was to ask. He was so romantic, loving, caring, and always wanting to spend time with me. Everything seemed so perfect, always buying me gifts, and showering me in compliments. But little did I know that there was a reason behind all his actions.
About six months into our relationship, I come to find out through one of his friends that he has been cheating on me for about a month and a half. I had questioned Nunzio about it, and he lied right to my face, unaware that I know the truth. I remember him getting really angry with me for questioning his loyalty towards me, and told me not to ask a stupid question like that again. I forgave him, and decided to give him another chance. It’s been a year now, and Valentine’s Day comes up, Nunzio had a large bouquet of red roses delivered to not only our high school at the time, but also to my class room. I felt so special, and figured he changed and that was his way of trying to show it.
After a while, I noticed that Nunzio was becoming a little bit too comfortable and began hitting me. First it started with little shoves here and there. I always thought he was playing around until one day he actually gripped me up, and pinned me against the wall. I was so scared, I began to cry and look down at my feet, and he would take his hand place it around my throat and force my head up so I would have to look at him. I realized that I wasn’t really considered his girlfriend in his eyes; I was more like his slave. Always told me what to do, when to do it, and how he wanted things to be done. I was now doing his wash, folding it, putting it away, cooking for him, and cleaning what and whenever he told me to. If I didn’t do what he told me to do, he’d call me a disappointment and told me he would get someone else who would love to be in my shoes. He’d wake me up in the middle of the night when he would get home from doing whatever he did and forced me to wash him in the shower. Forcing me to have intercourse with him, when and where ever he wanted. I gave our relationship everything I could, and when I told him I was unable to give him anymore that I had already given, he smacked me across the face.
He even went out of his way to get me as gym membership; all because he wanted me to be able to do the things that he didn’t think I could unless I was built the way he wanted. I loved to work out so it wasn’t a big deal that he wanted me to. But after I started to become the way he wanted me to look, he put restrictions on the clothes