Domestic Violence is very real. It has been getting a lot of attention because of recent events with a couple of celebrities. What doesn't get the attention it deserves are the true victims who live with this situation day in and day out. I have been fortunate enough to have never experienced this in my own life but have become painfully aware of people that I love going through this. I can only hope that they do not become a statistic in a never ending battle.

Never Again

Natalia Boa Vista

Setting: After Collision, Natalia is invited to speak at the Dade County Women's shelter.

Natalia stood at the podium in front of maybe a couple dozen women and children that were currently staying that the Dade County Women's Shelter. The case that they had worked on the week before had hit a familiar sore spot. Most times the victim's end up going back to their attackers. It could be a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or parent. They needed to know that they were not alone.

"I want to tell you a story." she started.

"Several years ago a man physically pulled his wife out of church in front of the entire congregation. The man threatened her with harm and even informed her that he had a gun. He stood in front of everyone and accused her of cheating on him with another woman. All the while the people did nothing. When he got her home he forcefully held the gun to her head and told her that he loved her so much. The muzzle stamp of the gun was imprinted on her left temple for a week. He beat her so hard that night that she miscarried the baby she and her husband had been so excited about. As she lay in the bathroom bleeding a little piece of her was thankful that she would not have to bring a child into this situation. After she cleaned herself up her husband kissed her forehead and told her that he loved her. He fell asleep without a care in the world. The woman cried herself to sleep, but not loud enough to wake her husband.

The next morning she went to work as if nothing had happened. She put on extra makeup to cover the bruise to her left temple; however, it couldn't hide the intense pain she felt. She couldn't move because she was black and blue. He knew where exactly to hit her so that no one would be the wiser. She was afraid to run because he would always find her. He called her family and filled their heads with lies so that if she ever came to them with the truth, they wouldn't believe her.

She left him after he beat her to within an inch of her life. Her terrifying screams woke up her neighbors. They told the cops that they had never heard the young couple fight. They were wrong. They had heard them fighting before but did nothing to stop it.

He was arrested and put in jail for 3 years. The woman ran as far as she could. She stopped once she reached Miami."

Natalia pulled a sonogram picture out of her bag. She held it up for everyone to see. "My baby would have been five years old this June. She never got a chance because I was too afraid to stand up to my abuser. I am not telling you what to do, but please think of yourselves and your children. There is help out there for victims of abuse. You have all taken a huge step in the right direction."

Natalia looked up through her tears and saw a familiar face in the back of the room. She stepped down and ran into the waiting arms of her sister and her mother. They had never known about what had happened that day; they chose to believe Nick's lies. Her mother apologized over an over again. They both shed tears for the grandchild that never got the chance.

Been there before, but not like this
Seen it before, but not like this
Never before have I ever
Seen it this bad
She's just a woman
Never Again

--Nickelback

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