Breaking Free: Reclaiming My Life

on. But it wasn't until a year after our marriage, when I gave birth

rtbroken, I wan

g that if I left him, he wo

. It wasn't until Vince finally died that I could finally breathe again. But just when I tho

. The despair was too much to bear

uld not make the same mistakes. I would stay far away from Vince, cut t

es again, I had ret

my surroundings, a famili

dy told my parents about you. They're so excited to meet you,

your family. I'll bring plenty of gifts to impress th

After you graduate next

ild. My parents are still young and ene

s face full of warmth and a

t broke out all

entle, considerate, making me believe I had found true love. I h

other's families, got engaged, and fo

f marriage, we had a

the luckiest wom

te was

e started talking to himself, staying up a

r. He had a hereditary mental illness, one that had been carefully con

taking medication to

ing his medication because he was afraid

nly one. His aunt h

re no secret in

escape their past, to start fre

ered their deceptio

trap

mily's history of mental illness,

hing short o

had just given bir

t his illness sent me into a spir

to desperate pleas. His parents begged for my forgiveness. Vince wept, swearing he had

threatened suicide. I ha

once showered me with kindness began lashing out. He left br

g point. I told him

, he would kill my entire family. He claimed that even if he did, he'd

terr

or years, I suff

when Vince finally die

n. My daughter, the bright, intelligent girl I had dev

shattered me

, unable t

e flashed before my eyes-years of s

cause I had m

again, I swore, I would ne

d heard my plea, I woke up and

ld stay far, far

ness, my mind raced, searchin

I had a good education, a mild temperament, dece

that made me a

d when I rem

about something? Oh, I know! Are y

lightly touc

iful and accomplished. Of

d me because I checked

? What if I had a se

truggling financially,

still be

n a hesitant, guilty expre

ng, Vince... I haven't been

ha

tant gaze, I co

n. My dad isn't an executive. He's a security guard. My mom isn't a teac

'd like to have my p

e on Vince's face dis

ivered the

e doctor said it's unlikely I'll ever be able to have children. So... if we do

ession d

ou ser

lled in

uch. I was afraid you'd leave me i

t with me for these things, r

he was still a man who cared about

, but could they really affor

pecting me to care for Vince

even bigger problem int

er I had our daughter, he pressured me to have another

't been secretly taking birth c

tch financially, so they couldn't send me any money this month. I'm a little short. Vince, would you mind le

ing while the

. For the first time, he c

red, "I think we should hold off

e you having second

ars, wiping the

ked his arm away, look

d cra

time apart. I have a lot goin

left in

silent breat

e him a taste of

sn't this exactly h

I felt amazing and headed

back, I received a

ded we weren't right for each other and that we shoul

e best news I'd

and deleted every wa

ed, a weight lifted

e I had no more classes, everyone

little romance with Vince that I didn't care about work

wasn't about to

companies back home. Just as I was about to call my

and, get

alled best friend from my previous life. And s

own, though his family later moved away. Appar

e a perfect match,

actually been grateful to her at first, t

started showing his true colors, t

eady gotten what she want

and glittering jewelry, sh

stable. She had introduced us on purpose

gave me whatever I wanted. I was confident, outgoing, and never had to struggle

I was a

ffortlessly have things

ger brother but either ignored or abused her. They had never once shown her real love. Even w

stered inside her, twisting her

ted with Vince, she

e knew that if I married him, I'd be t

e me. Well, I'll make sure you f

m part of high society, and you'll be stuck

sn't as arrogant as sh

ll, but when she saw the cold l

other word, slowly closed the

you broke up