I was only 21 when I decided to get married to my husband. Everything seemed normal at first until I notice how jealous he was when I would come in contact with my best friend who was a girl. He beat me every time I went out with her. My best friend was all I had in the states apart from my husband as my family was from Ghana. My husband kept me from the family and would often time hang up the telephone when my mom would call. I was beaten every day sometimes twice a day. I did everything I could to make sure he was happy, fed, and cared for so I wouldn't get beaten but he would always find a reason. The last beat I received was supposed to end me. I remember my husband coming home and complaining about his boss writing him up. I ran to him and consoled him and allowed him to weep in my arms things felt normal and peaceful what was about to happen next was anything but normal. My husband pulled away from me and questioned me about dinner and I began to explain that I was just about to start dinner, I also explained that I wasn't expecting him to come home so early, as I began to utter I will start now, I felt a swift metal bounce against my head and I woke up to my husband strangling me and shouting die, die why won't you die. I fought back with tears in my eyes and my heart heavy everything in me said to give up and the other part of me said fight. I remember being torn between life and death and the crazy part was that death at the time felt easier I kept thinking just let go it will all be over soon.  I mustered up enough strength to strike him in a vulnerable location on his body part and ran for the door. I banged on a few of my neighbor's doors as and shouted help me! One neighbor opened his door and allowed me to sit and wait for the police to come. When the police picked me up from my address that was the last time I ever saw my husband. I entered into a safe place and began rebuilding my life it took me a lot to trust again.