my name is Emma I want to tell you my story it is a story of love mistakes and hope I was a quiet child I didn't talk much I didn't have many friends my parents were very strict they said no playing no friends no Hobbies I stayed at home all day I wanted to play with other kids but my parents said stay inside I didn't go to kindergarten when I started school I was scared I asked myself how will I talk to other kids but soon I made some friends I stayed quiet at school I
told myself be quiet be safe I wanted to join art classes and sports I love drawing but my parents said no focus on your studies art is not important after school I went to college I met a boy named Ryan he was tall and funny he made me laugh he said you are so beautiful I felt special when I was with him we talked for hours he told me you are my best friend I wanted to study and get a good job but Ryan didn't like that he said why do you need a degree you
can marry me I was 18 years old I was in love I thought Ryan will take care of me he asked me to marry him he said let's start a family I stopped going to college I gave up my dreams I thought love is more important than School at First everything was good we were happy we had a daughter her name was Lily she was small and sweet but things started to change Ryan told me you can't wear those clothes he didn't like my tattoos or short hair he said change your style I stopped meeting
my friends Ryan said you don't need them stay home with Lily Ryan started coming home late he said I was with my friends I felt lonely I wanted to talk to him but he didn't listen one night he got angry he shouted at me he saidou are not a good wife I cried one day Ryan hit me I couldn't believe it I cried all night I wanted to leave but I was scared I went to my parents I said please help me but they said you are Mar married stay with your husband I went back
to Ryan I told myself things will get better I got pregnant again this time I had a son his name was Jake he looked just like me I loved him so much Ryan didn't come to the hospital when I came home he said why are you here so soon I felt hurt Ryan had a girlfriend he didn't hide it he told me she loves me more than you I felt small and unimportant I wanted to leave but I didn't know how I had no money I had two children to care for one day Ryan joined
the army he left me with the kids he said you can manage I cried every day my father died during this time my mother moved to another country I was alone Ryan called me from the Army he said I found someone new I couldn't believe it I asked why he said I am happier with her 3 months later Ryan called again he said I made a mistake please take me back I still loved him I said okay we tried to fix our marriage but Ryan didn't change he still hurt me with his words now we
have been married for 16 years Ryan tries to be better but he still hurts me with his words I often think about my life why did I forgive him so many times why did I stay I am 33 years old now I am not the same person I used to be I am stronger but I feel tired sometimes I feel like I don't exist I want to to believe in a better life I want to find happiness for myself and my children every morning I wake up early I look at my children they are my
reason to keep going Lily is eight years old now she loves drawing and singing Jake is four years old he likes to play with cars and laugh loudly I tell myself be strong for them I cook breakfast I pack Lily's lunch for school Jake stays home with me but some days are very hard I feel tired I feel sad I ask myself how did my life become like this one day my neighbor knocked on my door her name is Sarah she smiled and said hi Emma do you want to come over for tea I wanted
to say no I was scared Ryan would get angry but I went I needed someone to talk to Sarah told me you are not alone I am here for you her words made me cry I didn't feel so alone anymore Sarah gave me an idea she said why don't you start working from home I thought about it Ryan didn't want me to work outside but maybe I could do something small I started baking cakes and selling them at first it was hard I didn't know if I could do it but I worked hard my cakes
were good people started ordering more for the first time in years I felt proud of myself I thought I can do this one day Ryan came home Angry he shouted why are you baking you don't need to work I looked at him and said I need to do this for me and for the kids I will not stop Ryan was shocked he didn't say anything I was scared but I felt strong life didn't change overnight Ryan still gets angry sometimes but I started to set rules I told him I will not allow you to hurt
me anymore if you hit me again I will leave he didn't believe me at first but I stayed strong I knew I had to protect myself and my children I also started meeting new people Sarah introduced me to her friends they were kind and supportive I started doing small things I used to love I cut my hair short again I wore colorful clothes I felt like myself after a long time Lily said mom you look so happy her words made me smile now I am thinking about what I want I want a safe and happy
life for my children I want to feel free I don't know if Ryan will ever change but I know I have changed I am not the same scared girl I was before I tell myself one day you will find peace I don't know when but I believe it will happen if you are reading my story I want you to know something you are strong you can survive hard times don't give up on yourself I hope my story gives someone hope if you enjoy the story please like subscribe and share
