Once you realize a man has so much control over you, your happiness, or your self-worth you than realize how much you failed that inner child who fought to be nothing less than a strong independent woman. Men feel as if without them women are less successful and that a strong woman who’s successful with everything is a threat to them. Men feel women should be submissive and this I too was a victim of at a raise of a hand I’d bow down to a man in fear of disappointing them and I know my ancestors are rolling in their grave as I mention how he would call me his slave. All the red flags I ignored because of the manipulation a man had over me how he made me feel less beautiful without him or how I couldn’t be anything more than a house wife or sex object unless he himself put me there on a pedal stool surrounded with bright lights. Men for generations have always had the upper hand and we are too afraid to speak but we all have to be the voice our men are afraid we’ll find. I know that my biggest regret is that I stayed after the first time I was hit and that made me seem weak to so many to continue to pretend to be in a happy perfect relationship with someone I was solely dependent on for my happiness and financially also. I’ve learned I’m more than what I was forced to be, and I became stronger without him. I see now I can be much more and that I am beautiful.