by Erica Jordan
Exchange Staff

     Relationship abuse is common these days whether it is verbal or physical.  In the story about Colette and Joey, it demonstrated both.  One of my best friends attends college with Colette in Connecticut, and that is how I came to learn about her situation.  I instant messaged her one afternoon asking if I could hear her story.  She was glad to tell me about it because she wanted people to know that relationships can be scary sometimes.

     I could tell she was hesitant to share the story, but once she realized it may help people, she was very willing.  Before Colette, I had never known anyone who was going through an abusive relationship.  I learned a lot about the emotional effects, physical effects, and how Colette dealt with them day after day.  While I was writing the story, I could hear Colette and Joey arguing, and see her getting abused because of the vivid descriptions and quotes she gave me. 

     Women need to see the signs of an abusive relationship early on so they don’t have to go through what Colette went through.  Listen to your friends and family if they sense something wrong.  Even though Colette never shared what was going on with her family and friends, she wishes she had because she probably would have been able to get out of the relationship just in time.