He sat solemnly at the dining room table as she struck him with her fists over and over.  This was his fault, she screamed.  He deserves this, she shouted.  My fault, he echoed.  I deserve this, he thought.

Even after she left, there were dents in his armor.  Her voice in his head, echoing the words of his father before her.  Worthless, leech, burden.

The words cycled through him as he looked into the eyes of his son.

“You are my light.”  He whispered.  “You are my reason.  You are my strength.”  He cradled the infant close.  “I hope to be all that for you too.”

In those eyes he saw his worth.  He saw he was needed.  That he was strong.

Author’s Note:

Women are not the only ones that suffer through abusive relationships.  There are plenty of men that do as well.  No one deserves to be abused.  If you are in an abusive relationship, there is help – there is hope.  

US residents can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233, or by texting LOVEIS to 1-866-331-9474.

This post is not sponsored by the hotline, and I don’t have any affiliation with them