Living close to nature has brought me home to myself after decades of trying to escape Appalachia. This is my home, the mountains bring me peace. I went off grid 9 years ago which helped me hide, heal and sustain life. I thought several times I was going deep in the woods to die. I survived.
I also survived a grizzly domestic assault 24 years ago. I was 24 years old and it was about 2 weeks after Christmas. In the blink of any eye me and my children’s lives were left shambles and as I begin to pick up the pieces I realized I wasn’t special. I wasn’t especially traumatized nor was I especially abused.
I am one of the “lucky ones”. That was from the prosecutor, Amy Cross, from Norfolk Virginia concerning my case. Our case. Once I realized that I am one of the “lucky ones” it made me feel sad then sick. The realization that there’s millions of me out there was disturbing to put it mildly.
After hiding decades of abuse, it was almost more than I could bear and no one could have prepared me for how hard my healing journey would be. I would wish it on no one and the worst part is that it could have been avoided.
By speaking up and sharing our story I hope you know YOU are not alone. The data is in folks and it is clear that domestic violence destroys lives. We need to push to strengthen all laws around domestic abuse, and ensuring survivors rights are protected this critical in this war. It is a war that is being fought behind closed doors with women and children primarily on the front line.
If you see something then say something. Jenn
From The Holler 