When you think about abuse, do you think of someone being slapped? Or punched? I did too until I found myself in a toxic marriage in which I was emotionally, verbally, mentally, and financially abused. I did not even know I was being abused until I was taken out of the situation and started seeing a therapist. This is my story of how the abuse changed my life, of how I had to fight to rebuild my life. I want to educate others to know that abuse is not just physical-to know that you can be "beaten down" with words, with threats. You are not alone, and there is hope for a new beginning. I hope to inspire other women. I look back at my journey and know that God was with me the entire time. I wanted to give up, to not go on anymore, but God gave me a purpose, and it was through that pain that I reached my purpose-to be a light in someone else's pain.