Thanks for posting this. Before we moved I volunteered at a women's shelter (a really terrific one that also had living accommodations that they would support a family in for up to a year while they retrained or sought employment). I saw the face of abuse, and it was your face and my face and our neighbour's face and the doctor's wife's face...all of them sad faces needing help. And I saw the face of the children of abuse..innocent children with split lips and black eyes because they tried to stop the abuse. God bless the child.
If one person seeks help because of what is posted here today, then all the work we do here is worthwhile.
If you are being abused, please do not feel afraid or ashamed to reach out to a shelter near you, they will help you even if you don't go there and they will help you leave safely if it comes to that. It's not your fault that you are abused, and there is no shame in reaching out for help when you need it.
Hugs