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total hearts received for Moments That Survive

Busy Bee

In memory of Elizabeth Ann

My late daughter’s father, my ex-husband, had learned from his father how to control and mentally abuse his victims. He appeared to be an upstanding member of the community. He had his own real-estate business, had previously been an Army officer, and had received the highest award at his university. He was very charming and intelligent, so it was easy for him to gaslight everyone. His reasons for the emotionally cruel things he did or didn’t do always sounded reasonable. And my daughter fell for it as well, then realized it after having endured trauma.

Tragically, she got involved with a guy about four years older who was also smart and manipulative. He eventually, after mind games and physically abusing her, convinced her to shoot herself. She died on Father’s Day morning at age 21. The police had been called on both her dad and the boyfriend. Other professionals, including Child Protective Services and a judge, had been warned throughout the years, but they would not listen to me. I don’t know how she got the gun. Her father, who had paid off others in the past, didn’t want to pursue justice, and the police did nothing.

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