【轻阅读，看世界】What is that one picture that describes the lowest point in your life?

铅笔英语，每晚睡前故事。

看世界人生百态，品人间真情冷暖。

多一种语言，多一个纬度，多一段故事。

My daughter and I.

Me- 22.

Adalina- 2 weeks old.

You may be confused. Isn’t having a newborn supposed to be the happiest time in your life? Especially if it’s your first child.

This was the day I found out my boyfriend, her father, was cheating on me.

I got dressed up and did my makeup for the first time since giving birth, so I could hopefully look desirable again to him. Or somebody. Anybody. I had never felt so low before.

I went to the park to spend time with my daughter and think about things. You might judge me since she was so tiny and brand new, but I had to get out of the house. I took a picture of us to document her first time at the park.

I wasn’t even angry with my boyfriend like you would assume. I was angry with myself. I felt like the biggest failure. How had I chosen such a horrible partner. A horrible father for my beautiful, precious gift. She was everything to me since I first found out about her, and I had already failed her before her life had started.

A month later I finally confronted him about the cheating. We got in a verbal fight, which led to him physically assaulting me. It wasn’t the first time it happened, but it was by far the worst.

I am so proud to say I left the next day while he was at work. It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but now I can look into my daughters eyes and not feel guilty. I know I’m giving her the best life I can provide, which is all I can do. I had to forgive myself for choosing her father, because if not it would eat me alive.

I share this story so if anyone out there is in an abusive relationship they will see that it is possible to leave.