Most of my experience as a survivor in the relationship and out of it has not felt super validated. I don't think people get how to give support in a way that's helpful.

I wish there was more awareness of abuse in younger relationships. I was in my twenties. Even now, six and a half years later, there's still moments where I'm like, I probably should have thought through that or felt that more or experienced that.

I always knew that it wasn't me. I always knew that it was him. And I think that's because I had known him since I was 14 years old.

I speak as someone who is a human. And I think we don't give enough credit to the human experience, right? It's layered. And I am layered, right? I'm human. Every day is not wonderful. And wonderful days are not always your wedding day, right? Just waking up. Sometimes just existing. I worked so hard to get to this point. Just waking up and being okay is a wonderful day.