A Fly in the Ointment

[Saoirse9]

40. If only they had you to help track him

Search would be over in no time I’m sure.

I have to tell you a story.

When I was 22, exactly Gabby’s age, I was married to a violent alcoholic. Married less than a year, we got into an argument and I poured a giant can of V-8 over his head. He had accused me of sleeping with my boss. I got the hell beat out of me. When he passed out I called police and they sent for an ambulance. I had a concussion and some major bruising but nothing broken and no injuries to my face.

I was in ER and the cops had despaired of having me press charges because most women don’t. But I took a cab to the police station and filled out the police report.

Husband spent the night in jail, didn’t remember a thing the next day, just woke up with V-8 in his hair. We had to go to court but the court date was months maybe a year away and by that time he had sobered up and I dropped charges.

3 years or so later my sober husband pounded me on the thigh and I realized he was no just violent because of the booze, it was in him. I divorced him. There was a lot more to the divorce than a bruised leg but that’s too long a story. Basically my in-laws were always covering for his bad behavior and I was outnumbered. Years later post divorce I was picking up our dog. We shared custody. His new very young girlfriend was at his house and she had a healing bruise on her face that looked to be a few weeks old.

This kid’s parents will do anything to keep him out of jail. They probably gave him money to run with.

I watched the video of her and I could see she was pretty close to the end of her rope. She could have come clean with the cops like I did. Would have saved her life at least for a while.

That 22 year old kid is me minus the social media. I am heart broken for her and I can feel the anxiety she felt.

Millions of women of all ages colors shapes and sizes know exactly how Gabby felt.

I hope her story results in stronger DV laws.

I want to fight for women like her. Like me. I don’t know how to start.