#WhyIStayed

This whole Ray Rice thing and now the #WhyIStayed thing has made me start thinking why I stayed?  I have been in more than one abusive relationship, the first one was worst than the second one. I have been afraid, hurt, hit, choked, bruised, raped, slapped, and so much more. So why does anyone stay in that kind of relationship? Usually because they think things will get better. If they try a little harder, that person will change. All the promises from the abuser claiming that it won't happen again, we believe. We even think it is our fault, that we deserve this. Even believing it is because we aren't loveable.  We think that if we love the person better or more than things will improve. We also stay out of fear.  If someone is willing to harm you while you are with them, what will they do if you actually leave?  It is easy for someone to say that they wouldn't put up with abuse or they would leave? But being in the situation it isn't as easy as just walking out.  I'm fairly strong minded and I still stayed. Believing things would improve, believing lies.