How did we get here?

If you have not walked in my shoes,
Down the road that is dark and bleak.
You know the one I'm thinking of,
Domestic Violence Street.

Emotional abuse,
Physical abuse,
Mental abuse,
And sexual abuse.

Do not pretend to know my story,
Or assume that we are the same.
We asked for it or we should have kept our mouth shut,
Should never have let it get this bad,
I should have walked away.

The pain I feel gets lesser everyday,
Because I choose not to let the past get in my way.
I was silly to think that he loved me,
And that he really did care.
Because looking back on it I see,
Loves is not raising a knife and threaten to kill,
It isn't about hate or keeping family away.
It's about balancing your partner out,
Showing them everyday just how special they are.

Silly me I was confused,
I became unable to tell the difference,
And let him threaten my life,
My family,
My friends,
God, how stupid could I have been?

I was lucky though,
I came out on the other side of the street.
I have been able to see it all through my own eyes and now I see,
No one is the same,
No one deserves it either.
I have seen the hurt it causes to family and friends,
And I have felt the pain.
I remember never being happy,
And wanted to just go away.

Now I see,
My eyes are open.
If only I knew then what I know now,
Domestic violence is not about race,
Religion,
Political views,
Or even money.

It is not just a single parent on welfare,
Or the supermarket cashier,
It's also millionaire's wife.
It can affect any one,

What I have learned,
Never be quick to judge,
You may think you know their story,
But really haven't got clue.
Don't think it can't happen to you.