Emily

It all started so great. Bard was charming, attentive, and so different from all the other guys I had dated. I felt like I had finally found someone who truly cared about me.

As time went on, Bard's behavior continued to escalate. He started forbidding me from seeing my friends and family, telling me that they were a bad influence on me. He would constantly call and text me, demanding to know where I was and who I was with. If I didn't respond to his calls or texts right away, he would get even more angry.

"I don't want you seeing your friends anymore, Emily. They're a bad influence on you," Bard said sternly, his eyes narrowed.

"What? That's ridiculous, Bard. My friends are great people," I protested, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

"Don't argue with me, Emily. I know what's best for you," he said, his voice low and menacing.

As the weeks went by, Bard's behavior became more and more controlling. He would call and text me constantly, demanding to know where I was and who I was with. If I didn't respond right away, he would get angry.

"Where the hell were you, Emily? I've been trying to reach you for hours," he barked over the phone.

"I was out with Sarah. I told you that," I replied, trying to keep my voice even.

"Well, you should have let me know when you were leaving. I worry about you, Emily. You're mine," he said possessively.

Then came the first time he hit me. I was stunned and scared, and I didn't know what to do.

"Emily, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please forgive me," Bard said, tears in his eyes.

"I don't know, Bard. This isn't right. I can't stay with someone who hits me," I said, my voice trembling.

"I promise it won't happen again. I love you, Emily. Please don't leave me," he said, pulling me into his arms.

But the abuse continued, getting worse and worse each time. I knew I needed to leave him, but I was scared.

"I can't do this anymore, Bard. I'm leaving you," I said, packing my bags.

"You can't leave me, Emily. You're mine," he snarled, grabbing my arm.

I pulled away from him and ran out of the apartment, my heart racing.

I found myself constantly making excuses for him and trying to justify his behavior to me. I didn't want to believe that the man I had fallen in love with was capable of being so controlling and abusive.

But that was just the beginning. The abuse continued, getting worse and worse each time. I tried to leave him several times, but he always managed to find me and convince me to come back.

I was trapped, feeling like there was no way out. The abuse had taken a toll on me, both physically and emotionally. I felt like I was living in a nightmare, and I didn't know how to wake up.

But then came the second time he hit me. It was a small slap across the face, but it was enough to shock me and bring me back to reality. I knew then that I needed to get out of the relationship, but I was scared. I was scared of what he might do if he found out that I was planning to leave.

Despite my fears, I started making a plan to escape him. I confided in a close friend and made arrangements to stay with her until I could figure things out. But Bard found out about my plan and convinced me to stay with him, promising that he would never hit me again.

Of course, it wasn't long before the abuse started again, worse than ever before. I felt trapped and alone, unable to escape the cycle of abuse that I was caught in. But I knew that I had to find a way out, even if it meant taking drastic measures.

Regardless of my fear, I mustered up the courage to leave Bard and start a new life on several occasions. Each time, I would pack my bags and try to sneak out of the apartment while he was at work. But he always managed to find me, texting and calling me relentlessly until I answered. He would say all the right things, apologizing for his behavior and promising that he would change. He'd make grand romantic gestures that made me believe that he still loved me and couldn't bear to live without me. And so each time, I would reluctantly go back to him.

Each time Bard would find me after I attempted to leave, he would become even more abusive than before. The hits would leave bruises and marks that I would try to cover up with clothing or makeup. The insults became more personal and hurtful, attacking my self-esteem and making me feel worthless. I felt like I was walking on eggshells all the time, never knowing what would set Bard off and trigger another round of abuse.

The control he exerted over me was suffocating. He would track my movements, monitor my phone calls and text messages, and even demand access to my social media accounts. He would dictate where I could go, whom I could talk to, and what I could wear. I felt like I had lost all sense of agency and autonomy in my life.

Despite the pain and misery, Bard caused me, I couldn't help but love him. I was convinced that deep down he was a good person and that he could change if he just tried hard enough. I believed that our love could conquer all and that we could have a bright future together. But deep down, I knew that things could never go back to the way they were before. I knew that I was in an abusive relationship and that no amount of love could fix that.

Still, I felt trapped. I didn't know how to escape the cycle of abuse. Every time I tried to leave, Bard would find me and convince me to come back. I felt like I was stuck in a never-ending cycle of misery and pain. The idea of leaving him for good seemed impossible, like an unattainable dream.

I was plagued by feelings of helplessness and isolation. I felt like no one could understand what I was going through, and I felt guilty for staying with Bard despite his abusive behavior.

I was desperate to find a way out, but I didn't know where to turn. I was scared of the repercussions of leaving Bard and starting a new life, but I knew that I couldn't stay in the cycle of abuse forever.

I made tentative plans to leave Bard, but he somehow found out about them. "What are you doing, Emily? You can't just leave me like this," Bard yelled, his face contorted with anger.

"I'm sorry, Bard. I can't stay with you anymore. It's not safe for me," I said, my voice shaking with fear.

"You're not going anywhere, Emily. You're mine," Bard hissed, grabbing my arm.

I tried to pull away, but he was too strong. "Let go of me, Bard. Please," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

But he didn't let go. Instead, he dragged me back into the apartment, his grip tightening around my arm. I was trapped once again.

I confided in my friend Sarah and told her everything that was going on. "Emily, you need to leave him. He's dangerous," Sarah said, her voice full of concern.

"I know, I know. But I don't know how to do it. He always finds me and convinces me to stay," I replied, tears streaming down my face.

"We'll figure it out," Sarah said, putting a comforting arm around me.

After talking to Sarah, I felt a sense of relief and hope. But my relief was short-lived. Later that night, Bard found out that I had confided in Sarah. He was furious.

"I can't believe you would go behind my back like that, Emily. You're supposed to be loyal to me," he said, his voice full of anger.

Before I could say anything, he hit me again, harder than before. I fell to the ground, whimpering in pain.

"You're going to learn your lesson, Emily," he said coldly, As Bard dragged me outside into the pouring rain, I struggled and fought back with all the strength I had left. I screamed and begged him to stop, but his grip on my hair was too tight. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break free.

I pounded on the door and begged him to let me back inside, but he just laughed and walked away, leaving me stranded in the rain. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears and my breath coming out in ragged gasps.

As I lay there, shivering and alone, The rain continued to pour down on me as I huddled in a ball, my clothes drenched and my body shaking with cold. The darkness around me was oppressive, and the only sounds I could hear were the pounding of the rain and my sobs.

I couldn't believe that Bard had done this to me. I never thought that the man I loved could be capable of such cruelty and violence. As the hours ticked by, I wondered if I would ever make it out alive.