I wish someone would have told me to leave, to run away and never look back, but I was too scared to say the words out loud. But I refuse to stay silent any longer because I know there is a girl out there learning how to hide bruises and doesn't know if she can leave. But you can.

It starts off so innocent, the first time he crossed the line. But isn't that always has it starts? You just grabbed me too hard and when the black and blue started appearing on my pale skin I brushed it off as nothing more than I bruise easily. When he sees he will apologize, it will never happen again and he will be sweet and you will believe him because you don't want to believe this boy you love is actually a monster. Time will pass and you will forget it even happened, until you are in a bar with all of your friends and you see a look in his eyes that scares you to your core. That when he looks at you, you don't even recognize him, and what comes next changed me forever.

Three years later I was still trapped, I was pushing the people I loved away my friends and family didn't even know who I was I was a shell of the person I used to be until one day when I woke up. I was a senior in high school and wearing a full smokey eye to hide the black that laid underneath the powder, that I was given for speaking when I was asked not to. When a girl younger than me came up to me and started complimenting my makeup I broke down in tears and ran out of school in the middle of the day.

When I left I was so afraid no one would ever really love me because I didn't actually love myself. Now looking back I realize that no one should be afraid of the person they love, and so many girls are silent and spend hours on they're makeup covering the mistakes of a man who doesn't really love her. Even though this is a story told time and time again I hope finally speaking my truth will save someone.

Remember you are stronger than you look.