My ex and I had an on-again-off-again relationship for seven years. We also had a 5-year-old daughter at the time this happened. On September 16, 2003, he took me by gunpoint to another city. The whole way there, he was doing drugs and beating me. We ended up at his friends’ house. They wanted to celebrate a birthday at a club. Being in a public place didn’t stop him from being abusive. After a few complaints by other patrons, security told us we had to leave. This only enraged him, as he saw this as being my fault. We got in the car, and he again began beating me and hitting me with his gun. After what seemed like hours of driving around, he put the gun to my head and shot me with a .38 in the left temple. He then shot and killed himself. Even though my life will never be the same, I thank God I survived! I’ve been able to watch my girls grow up!