I survived domestic abuse and then left my home state of Illinois to get away from my abuser. He had been driving around trying to find me, threatening to come find me, and then ultimately was charged & convicted with violating my order of protection for it. So I left Illinois for my safety. ThenContinue reading “Privacy & Safety as a survivor of DV”
Tag Archives: survivor
The supplies from the day he killed Kirby.
I’ve held onto the supplies from the day Mathew Berry tortured and killed my dog Kirby for almost five years now. And now, today, just now, I said goodbye to them and threw them away. I said goodbye to the choke collar he used to torture Kirby. The one where that morning, he saw itContinue reading “The supplies from the day he killed Kirby.”
Looking at my abuser + PTSD
I saw my abuser in person in court. Obviously. And I’m reflecting on that. That man, that human being, wants nothing to do with me now, except maybe to harm me and get me off his back as I’ve shouted his ugly truth to the world. And for a time in our lives, that humanContinue reading “Looking at my abuser + PTSD”
The Case’s Grand Finale + Reflection
Yesterday, my abuser and the man who killed both of my dogs, Mathew Berry, pleaded guilty to the animal cruelty crime he committed against Kirby on June 23, 2020. I delivered an impact statement, and I’m sure I’ll share that in written form here soon but for now, know that it served its purpose andContinue reading “The Case’s Grand Finale + Reflection”
It was 4 years ago that I found out for certain what he did to Daisy.
And tomorrow, I get to look him in the eye and tell him I know.
my abuser used to threaten me for being a teacher & now I get thanked profusely for it
My abuser used to threaten to kill me and my family for being a Spanish teacher. He said I was “part of the problem with this country” and was “just as bad as *them*.” One time, my abuser and I were on a walk around where I lived at the time, which coincidentally was inContinue reading “my abuser used to threaten me for being a teacher & now I get thanked profusely for it”
Victim Impact Statement
“Damn.” – my husband’s reaction when I read it to him (shortly followed by “that was amazing and incredibly powerful”) In all seriousness, man it is no easy feat to write a VIS! But it’s very rewarding once you do 🤍 To be read at a future, unknown date, in the future (Yeah Court wasContinue reading “Victim Impact Statement”
It’s 3am and I’m reflecting on my story (my abuser is pleading guilty to animal cruelty this week)
It’s 3am and I can’t sleep, but that’s typical these days. And when it’s 3am and I can’t sleep, my mind wanders. And it usually wanders to my story. To Court. To what lies ahead this week. And today, now, this 3am brings me back to my story. Particularly Daisy. And I’m beginning to cry,Continue reading “It’s 3am and I’m reflecting on my story (my abuser is pleading guilty to animal cruelty this week)”
June 23 & I bought my flight
It’s June 23. Four years since Kirby. And I just bought my flight back home. For trial. Here we go
The worst trauma is fear
I woke up this morning feeling very reflective. It started right when I woke up. Most people wake up in the morning and check their phones or get up and brush their teeth or whatever to start their day. Maybe before any of that they just lay there and stretch that big comfy stretch whenContinue reading “The worst trauma is fear”
Sarah's Story 