The Fear of Being Alone

I once talked with a neighbor, in the apartment house I lived in, who was in an abusive relationship. Months went by with me seeing her with black eyes, bloody lip and all. The coward never showed up when I was in my apartment. He would drive away if he saw my car in the driveway. I never had the chance to confront him…

One day I asked her why she kept allowing him back. Her response saddened me greatly. ‘I would rather be abused than be alone.’ We had many conversations after that moment. She realized later that her abuse and trauma had started many years before. Her recovery was beautiful.

We cannot begin to fix ourselves until we begin to realize the patterns in our history and the history of our family, have the courage to face our fears and ask for help.

#remain curious #have the courage to understand