We have talked about how hard it can be to reach that moment, the one where you know it's time to leave and the timing finally feeling right. But what doesn't get talked about enough is the space in between when you actually make the exit. The difficulty of unpacking the life you built together. 

Some people make the decision early on, and for others, it takes years to reach this point. What’s important to understand is that choosing to step out of pain and darkness, to clear the fog and reclaim yourself, does not come easily. Recognizing the patterns of abuse that never change, and taking the courageous steps to separate yourself from them often comes in waves of self-preservation.

Now that you know where I am, please join me in the discovery chapters that got me here.

There is something quietly powerful about a woman who chooses to live intentionally. I wake each morning no longer just going through the motions, but with a new focus not to react, but to create, to grow, to honor my inner voice. Once you choose this it comes with asking some of life's hard questions. What do I really want? What brings me peace? What am I no longer willing to carry? And then, slowing down enough to listen to that inner voice that has been whispering all along.

Many of us come to a point in our lives where we find ourselves in a life that we never would have imagined. What we do next isn't just important, it's pivotal. I find myself no longer bound by the  weight of manipulation or constant doubt that clouded my worth. Walking away wasn't easy but it was powerful. Now every step is mine, fueled by freedom, self-respect, and the quiet strength that comes from surviving what tried to break me. I am not just healing---I am rising. And what's ahead is mine to claim, fully and fearlessly.