Chapter 73: Visitor

Toxic families are allergic to the truth so much so that they would rather support an obvious lie or protect an overtly bad person over supporting the scapegoat. – Dr. Sherrie Campbell

Jolene was in the physical therapy room, her guards sat in the corner trying to blend into the background. Physical therapy was mild, small movements just to keep her muscles from atrophying. However, at the end of the session, she was always exhausted.

Moving stiff muscles to recover from trauma was difficult. Being reminded of the trauma made it worse. Add in the fact that this happened at the hands of a man who she thought loved her, and it became even harder.

And today was her first anniversary.

This morning she made her first entry into her journal that Jolene had given her. It was a short entry with only a few sentences.

A year ago today, I married my husband, my world, the man that I loved. He became my abuser, my hell and the man that I now hate.

After that short entry, she stared at the page t