Missy met John when she was only 17. He was a charmer with a heart-stopping smile and the right words that swept her off her feet. Over the next eighteen years, they had seven kids together. She loved each of her children dearly but every passing day made her relationship with John increasingly toxic.
John turned out to be abusive, manipulative and downright mean. He’d took the money she made from working at her job just to order useless gadgets online. Not a dime saved for dinner or everyday necessities for the house. On top of the that it was constant verbal abuse, with the lack of financial stability tormented Missy and she knew she had to make a change.
One payday, instead of getting her money deposited she asked for a paper check because John had memorized the numbers on her credit card. Missy went to the police. They forced John to leave, the horror of eighteen years left with him.
It wasn't long before Missy met Timothy. He was kind, loving and understood her situation.
Timothy chuckled as he passed on the hot, frothy cup of coffee to Missy. No beautiful, I don’t want your money. I got this.
You sure? Missy asked, unable to believe him. She continued, Cause every paycheck, John my ex would steal at least $500 and order useless things online because he memorized my card number.
That’s terrible. But I’m not him, Missy. I won’t ever be him, Timothy promised. He gripped her hand reassuringly. He was here to share life with her, not drain her resources. It was all so new and surprisingly liberating.
Slowly, they began to heal together. Timothy would listen to Missy as she gradually unloaded years of pent-up fear and frustration, while she listened to his dreams of providing a safe home and comfortable life. Her trust in men had been fractured, but Timothy made sure he pieced it back together, bit by bit.
Those first weeks of her newfound freedom from abuse were both blissful and overwhelming for Missy. She was not used to being cared for, her well-being put first or even her income being solely hers.
After the rainstorm she had lived through for eighteen long years, life finally promised Missy some sunshine. The glow in her eyes as she woke up every morning said it all. Her children noticed it too. Missy was changing, her past torment replaced by newfound happiness, and the family found themselves more hopeful of their future than ever. After all, everyone deserves a shot at happiness and Missy was finally getting hers.