I’M A SURVIVOR

By Shyhyene Brown

This is the second part of a series on the author’s life after domestic violence.

How is it that you can claim to love a person while at the same time inflict physical harm on them? For the life of me, I can’t understand that. But I can honestly say when that happened to me on September 4, 2018, it was a real eye-opener.

Everytime I go to sleep, I have recurring nightmares. Just imagine being beaten so badly, when you look in the mirror and you start to act like you’re alright, though in reality you’re not. Imagine your face being broken so you won’t have to feel the pain. When you get the final word, when you can no longer see out of your right eye, that breaks you tremendously. And you try to sleep it off, but to no avail.

This is the pain I feel constantly when I wake up each morning. I ask myself, “Why me? Why did this happen to me?” But the positive thing through all this is that I’m still alive. Better yet, I’m a survivor.

I’m a strong individual. Since this incident, I’ve been through so much, and I haven’t allowed anyone to bring me down, and I stayed around strong-willed individuals.

I’m also unique.

God rescued me from a terrible situation and planted my feet in a safe environment. Also, I’m never going to place myself in that same situation.

Also, I’m vivacious and independent. I’m doing grown woman shit for myself and going through the healing process for myself.

I’m victorious, earning this victory, slowly but surely. I will be an overcomer, and now I am a revived woman of God.

So, for all you beautiful young women out there. This message is for you. Love isn’t supposed to hurt. Love is not being manipulated or using “love” against you. See, a real man will never put his hands on a female. He will love her, no matter what her flaws might be.

Since this whole episode, I’ve learned to love myself all over again, but it’s OK because God has me right where he wants me. And I’m all right with that.

LOVE YOURSELF. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF  

“We are all beautiful, phenomenal and a gift from God.” — Maya Angelou

(Strong, vivacious, overcomer

Unique, independent, revived,

Rescued, victorious)