Angelica Zapata

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💜 There was a time, years ago, when I believed I could conquer the world. I believed in myself. I was happy. Complete. My heart fell in love, and suddenly, life felt like a dream. There was also a time when I sat locked in my own room, in our own home, with a newborn in my arms, praying to every god that he wouldn’t walk through that door. Terrified. Every single day. I would get sick as 8 PM approached, praying he wouldn’t come home angry. Afraid for myself. Afraid for my children. Never knowing if I would make it out alive. And then there is the time I live in now. The time when I carry memories I cannot erase. When I know how one person can be both the one you once loved so deeply and the one you came to fear. When you tried desperately to save your family while a part of you longed to disappear. When you endured humiliation, betrayal, lies, manipulation, control, harassment, financial abuse, sexual abuse, and physical and psychological violence, all at the hands of the one you trusted with your heart, your life, and your future. Slowly, systematically, until you no longer recognized yourself. But there is also today. The time I’m finding my way back to me. Rebuilding my self-worth, facing my fears, healing wounds no one can see. Learning to live with what happened, even if I never forget. Even if forgiveness never comes. I cannot change my past. But I refuse to let it define my future. I’m still here. And little by little, I’m becoming myself again 💜 #DomesticViolenceAwareness #DVAM #DomesticAbuseAwareness #breakthesilence #mystorymyvoice