I gave you my heart like a treasured prize,
A gift you beheld with love-filled eyes.
You took it and held it and proceeded to use it,
It never occurred to me that you would abuse it.

I explained and ignored and even denied,
All of the evidence in front of my eyes,
I went so far as to turn my back,
Hoping against hope my love didn't lack.

Until that one day the unthinkable came,
You reached out and struck me and made me the blame,
Getting knocked to the ground,
My eyes were unveiled.
I finally realized, I'd been living in hell.

You begged and you pleaded,
And sounded sincere,
I even believed you
And let go of my fear.

It didn't take long
For the next episode,
This time it was worse
When I saw you explode.

It took me a while,
But I had to face facts.
When I walked out of the door,
There was no turning back.

You chased and you stalked me
And you made my life hell.
But worse was the shame,
That I couldn't tell.

I talked to the cops, my friends
And a minister.
Told of the threats
And evil so sinister.

Embarrassment and shame
I could not understand,
That the cause of my pain
Was my beloved husband?

Brenda '99'