October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Read and share stories to honor survivors whose lives have been changed by domestic violence.

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Lulu

Grand county advocates

When I was 19, I was pregnant and in an abusive marriage. I was able to leave my abusive marriage and gratefully, my daughter and I moved in with my family. I was not able to escape or leave my abuser. I lived an hour away from him but lived in total terror. It felt easier to be with my abuser than to feel like my family would be harmed, so I would move back and forth.

One weekend, I was living back with my family, and he stated that he had a gun and was coming to my parents house. He stated the gun had two bullets, for each of us. The fear that I was endangering my family gave me the strength to call the police. He was already on probation for domestic violence involving me, but his parole officer did not have a current address for him. I left her a voicemail, accusing her that if he shot me, it was her fault. I did not mean that. I was truly terrified.

The police found him a couple days later. I’ll never forget how I felt, the fear and the guilt.

Reacting shows support for gun violence survivors.

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