I have attempted many times, all futile, to put into words what my experience with abuse was like and how it has affected my mind and emotions long-term, but have backed out partially because of a fear of repercussions of writing about it. One such repercussion is, I admit I have been fearful of posting my writing about it for how my friends and family may worry reading about my mental health, and for what other people may think- I did not want to simply be known as the girl who went through abuse, and worse yet, let it happen to her. But that shame has passed. I am not the young, naive person who allowed myself to stay in an abusive dynamic. I now know it was a mere chapter in my life, and because I am beyond ready to close it, I am writing about it. Over the years, I have come to note that keeping it to myself has allowed the emotional wound to fester but not fully heal. Once I write about it, I can leave it outside of myself forever more. It is important to me bec...