Aftermath: Scars

For years after leaving the man who abused me I would not leave the house without lipstick on. Some thought it was in defiance of the years he controlled when I could wear makeup. But that wasn't it. It was because of the scars. Repeated battering had left my lower lip looking permanently bruised, with ugly, dark stains that looked like splotches. I hated them. I was ashamed of my mouth looked. I felt like anyone could look at me and tell I was this dumb girl who let herself get beat up on. With lipstick on, covering evidence of what I went through, I felt almost normal. With lipstick on, I could hold my head up high.

I'm happy to say that after about ten years the bruising faded away, as did other scars. I still have a scar under my left breast where he kicked me with boots on, but that is also fading, as is the ugly scar on my right leg. Day by day they slowly fade away...soon they will be gone. And the only reminders will be the scars on my mind. I'm working on those.

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