Nevertheless, because the question is always asked, it must be answered. Each woman whose story appears in this book had her own reasons for staying. These will be addressed, examined, and I fervently hope put aside for good. While the women whose stories appear in this book are courageous, they are not unique. Many other women have equally powerful stories.
Many women escape from abusive partners, although it often takes years.
Those who do not leave are no less courageous. Any woman in an abusive relationship, whether she has remained or managed to get free, is a strong woman. She has to be strong to survive the daily assault on her character and human dignity. If you are currently in an abusive relationship, it must seem that there is no way out. The women who tell their stories here felt the same way.