Here’s the thing. A dear friend is in an abusive relationship. At first I wasn’t sure. The things that she shared couldn’t be real. How could it be. No way! Wrong. Yes way!! It’s just too crazy for words, but true nevertheless. But until she is going to speak up and report it, there is nothing anyone can do about it. Authorities will not help. They are not allowed to step in until someone gets undeniably physically hurt. And even then, when she chooses to not report is, nothing will be done about it. ...

… of being honest, when it hurts the people you care about … of trying to to the right thing, when others look for alternative reasons … of living, when the joy of it has been taken away