“You are so stupid! Didn’t anyone ever teach you how to load a dishwasher?” He roared. She stared at him in disbelief as tears welled up in her eyes and shame slammed into her with the force of his words. “Oh Christ. That’s disgusting! Don’t you dare cry. You are so ugly when you do that.”
It was the third time in as many weeks that he had blown up at her out of nowhere. Calling her nasty names with a glare that made him unidentifiable. The first time he immediately feigned horror at his actions and blamed it on a bad day at work. The second, he waited a day and then asked her not to leave her purse on the counter again. This time, she resolved it would be the last.
It had only been a couple of months and suddenly she realized with embarrassment she didn’t know who to tell. She didn’t want to be judged for this new relationship failing so soon after her divorce was finalized. She hadn’t told anyone about the prior incidents – forcefully hoping it was just one bad event – until she realized it wasn’t. She had been spending all her spare time with him and hadn’t seen her friends or family much at all. She felt stupid – just like he told her.
“You stupid b*tch.” He nearly whispered. The controlled rage more threatening than when he threw that shoe at her last week. “I hope you understand. I am just not ready for a long-term relationship,” she implored. She grabbed her purse and headed out the door.
A week or so later it was September 30, 2022.
She was looking forward to the first full weekend she would have just to herself. Her kids were with their dad, and she was going to soak in some much needed peace. She planned a dinner with friends for the next night and instinctively she knew it was time to start healing.
She hadn’t received any nasty text messages or sobbing voicemails in the last two days and dared to think it was finally over.
He arrived at her house that afternoon unannounced. He was Facetiming with a friend when he walked to her front door. She was unprepared when she answered the door.
He fatally shot her.
Then he turned the gun and killed himself.
*This series is based on a true story.
If you recognize abusive traits in your partner, please talk over your concerns with a family law attorney, therapist, or local domestic violence prevention organization. You can call the 24-hour national domestic violence hotline at (800) 799 – 7233 or call the Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA) at (402)345-7273. The WCA can assist anyone in the Omaha area who is experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. They can help address immediate safety need and can provide ongoing emotional support. While it may be difficult to leave an abusive relationship, you do have choices; your safety and that of your children should be your top priority.
