In Love with a Monster

<p><strong style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>Imagine living a life that you have no control over.</em></strong></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Fear abject hatred unspeakable violent acts and terror follow you everywhere you go. They weigh on you like ships' anchors but your shoulders can no longer bear the strain.</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Life's pleasures bring you pain.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>You bear the scars of someone else's rage.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>The future is hopeless. The past is too traumatic to recall.</em></strong></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>This is what life is like for those who are in a relationship plagued by domestic violence. Your chest constricts. Your hands shake so you hide them as best you can so as not to provoke your abuser.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Look no one in the eyes or you'll suffer the consequences.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Don't laugh unless you've been told to and only for an approved amount of time.</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Hide your scars. Make excuses. Blame yourself. Tell yourself it will change.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>But what if it never does? What if you spend the rest of your earthly days living like a prisoner in a relationship that is destroying you inch by inch?</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>IN LOVE WITH A MONSTER</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> explores the dark and dangerous percussions of domestic abuse. It's for women who've suffered egregious brutality and created a façade to keep up appearances and not anger their abuser. It exposes the twisted logic that's embedded in psyches when someone is forced to remain in a toxic and brutal relationship. It's part cautionary tale part survival guide.</span></p>