I was in this relationship. My gut told me no, but my heart told me to stay. A year into it was the first push, a few months later a slap. This turned into fists to the face, being pulled down three flights to the basement being beat then kept down there. Then came the rape. In all sorts of ways. Every way he could violate me he could. This happened when I was just starting my life. He took away my life. Forever. I talk about it like it’s no big deal but it is. I was raped. I was kept hostage. I can’t look at anything the same. I survived but did I?