During the 20 years I remained in my abusive marriage I was never unfaithful to my husband. At least not sexually. But emotionally? Well, that’s something else altogether.
It was not long into my marriage that I began to feel painfully unseen, unloved and inadequate as a wife. I worked full-time and dreaded going home to our apartment where I lived in a constant state of uncertainty and fear. I strived to be perfect, but it was never enough. Oh, my then-husband and I had some good times together as long as I did everything he wanted to do when he wanted to do it and I didn’t inconvenience him in any way. My occasional petitions for a measure of forbearance or favor were met with unmasked hostility.
I trusted that over time my husband would come to appreciate me, and our marriage would be much more pleasant and fulfilling. But that didn’t happen.