When you think about abuse, do you think of someone being slapped? Or punched? I did too until I found myself in a toxic marriage in which I was emotionally, verbally, mentally, and financially abused. I did not even know I was being abused until I was taken out of the situation and started seeing a therapist. This is my story of how the abuse changed my life, of how I had to fight to rebuild my life.

I want to educate others to know that abuse is not just physical""to know that you can be "beaten down" with words, with threats. You are not alone, and there is hope for a new beginning. I hope to inspire other women. I look back at my journey and know that God was with me the entire time. I wanted to give up, to not go on anymore, but God gave me a purpose, and it was through that pain that I reached my purpose""to be a light in someone else's pain.

--Marisa Russo

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