Leslie - I watched my mom get beaten by my dad, and I was beaten by my dad on a regular basis.
I thought it would never happen to me. It did. My first husband put me in the hospital.
My current husband, the one I just left, was verbally abusive. He tried to intimidate me by pushing and backing me against the wall a few times. The last time I called 911, when the cops came, I told them a big lie and they left knowing that I lied.
It pissed him off but it scared him enough that he never did it again.
I am so glad to be out of there.
Your story is one I know well, I'm proud of you for being strong enough to post it.