Home is supposed to be your haven, your sanctuary, the place you go to recharge, relax, and be yourself. But when your marriage is deeply troubled, home is often the complete opposite.
When I lived with my husband, there was a certain point coming home, there was a certain block I would hit where my stomach would suddenly start to clench up. I don’t have that anymore.
Vivianne’s husband was abusive – initially it was emotionally abuse. Later it was physical. After a 48-hour episode of terror Vivianne knew she had to leave. Six weeks later she moved into an apartment in another state. She’d never lived on her own before. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to raise her two children and she was afraid she wouldn’t make it financially. But she wasn’t afraid of going home anymore.