To us…She was beautiful. She was smart…no brilliant.

She could make us laugh until it hurt. She owned the room, just by walking in.

She commanded attention.

She was my support. She was my friend, no she was my sister.

At home, she was mom.  She was nurturing. She cultivated her boys to be good men.

But she was weak.  She was subdued. She was quiet so that he could dominate the house.

She chose to leave……

Then she met him.

He was energetic. He was charismatic.

He made her feel beautiful again. He showed her a good time. 

He told her she was amazing. He told her he loved her. He told her she should be like him.

Then he told her she was nothing. He told her she would lose her children. He told her no one could love her.

He was manipulative. He was controlling. He broke her.

He broke her nose.

He broke the walls in her house.

He broke her computer, her phone, her relationships.

With her friends, with her coworkers, with her sons.

He broke her spirit.

In the end, he took her, but I won’t let him win.

I will remember her strength and I will be strong.

I will remember her love and I will nurture as she would have.

I will remember her ability to light up a room and I will have confidence.

And I will work every day to remember the real her…the her before him.

Because she was my friend and I loved her.  And though I couldn’t save her, I won’t let one day go by without thanking God for the thrill of knowing her.