why she stays (the progression)

she stays because he is so loving when he wants to be

she stays as she blocks out the memories of his rages hoping someday he will be who he once was

she stays as she goes about her daily routine trying to maintain some level and sense of a normal facade

she stays because she was taught 'for better or for worse' even if it means enduring the abuse

she stays hoping the next dark moment won't happen for sometime long from now as she tries to hold her family together on her own

she stays because he has beaten her independence, individuality and self esteem down to non existent

she stays because he controls her mind, her freedom, her life, the money, the car

she stays because he has convinced her she deserves the beatings; that she only needs to try harder to please him

she stays because she holds on to the blame as hers and hers alone

she stays because she is isolated and he is all she has left

she stays because she fears the unfamilar more than what she has learned for survival

she stays because she doesn't want to drag her kids down an endless trail of uncertainty

she stays because it seems easier dealing with the pain than to leave with a sense of shame

she stays because to leave and start all over doesn't seem like a viable option

she knows if she kicks him out he is psychotic enough to ignore the PFA the present threats are scary enough, but she has learned to cope and keeps false hope she stays because she fears of losing all she has struggled for

These are not her excuses; this is her reality