Author's Notes: I am trying something new this time and I hope it will come across in the manner I intend. That is, I hope to shine a light on how emotional abuse from a partner can destroy a relationship and do considerable damage to the victim's psyche. This story is partially based on an experience that I had a few years ago. As you read the story, I know that some of you will say that it is ridiculous because no man would ever put up with that much abuse. But I can tell you firsthand that some people are expert manipulators and will have you all twisted up before you even know what is happening.
While this story contains some details about sexual activities between the characters, those activities are overshadowed by the account of the emotional abuse endured by the main character. You should look elsewhere if it bothers you to read about emotional abuse, or if you want to read a story that is focused on the characters' sexual encounters.
I want to personally thank Mike for his tireless help with proofreading and editing this story - you know who you are!!
I also want to thank mydeepsix for his help with the ideas and helping me form the original story. If you haven't read his stuff, please do yourself a favor and check it out!
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As I sit here in this room and look around, I notice that there isn't much furniture. Everything is white and bright, very clinical in its design. Through the windows, I can see ducks on the water in the distance and that brings me some joy, so I'm grateful for that.
My name is Craig Jennings. I was the victim of emotional abuse from my girlfriend. My therapist, Dr. Caldwell, recommended that I write this story as part of the healing process I am going through. I'll write what I can remember, but I suspect there are some parts that I still can't remember, or they are still too mixed up in my mind or even too painful for me to express. So, let me begin.
Sometimes it's difficult to determine why things happen the way they do. As men we try to do everything to please those we love, albeit sometimes to our own detriment. Then when something goes wrong, we over analyze it and bottle it up inside to the point that we become depressed and introverted. However, this reaction can only take us so far. But we push forward like we were told to do as young men and continue to bottle up the rejection, the humiliation, and the jealousy. Then, at some point, it all becomes unbearable and, like a bottle of beer that has been shaken too much, we finally blow up.
Looking back on it now, I'm guessing that's what happened to me. I had a wonderful girlfriend named Angie who I thought was really the one. She was the perfect girl in my eyes when I met her in college. She was athletic, intelligent, a great conversationalist, and absolutely breathtaking to look at.
While I was in school for accounting, she was getting her psychology degree. Looking back, I can see how all those classes and training might have played a part in the disintegration of our relationship. Things always become clearer when you are looking at them in hindsight once it all comes crumbling down. It's been over six months since that fateful day and, after reevaluating everything with my therapist, I now realize that she used emotional and verbal manipulation to get her way.
From the moment we met at a party, we were inseparable. After we dated for about six months, I thought there was no one on the planet quite like her. She had a fantastic sense of humor; she could carry on a conversation for hours, and she was an absolute magician in the bedroom. Once I was completely enamored by her in every way, I asked her to move in with me. It only made sense because we spent every night together anyway and, by living together, we saved some money. Looking back now, I realize that once she moved in, she kept her money separate from mine and never helped with the rent. So, I guess we could say she was saving her money. I didn't care because she was the love of my life, and I was just happy to be sharing a life with her.
Sure, we had our hard times and more than a few times I wound up sleeping on the couch or going for a long walk to cool off. We were living together for about a year and, hindsight being what it is, I now see that, during that time, she did things to manipulate me. For example, she wrote me a letter on Valentine's Day telling me how much she loved me, but she wasn't sure why because I wasn't always there for her and was too busy going to college instead of making her my priority. Then she would end the letter with some things she thought were great about me.
It was like her compliments were always backhanded ones. I didn't see it at the time, but it gradually became a lot of her taking advantage of the situation and, if I didn't fall in line, I was made to feel like I let her down. Then, if her words weren't enough to make me comply, her crying and finally her yelling and slamming doors would get me to just give in.
I had to hand it to her, it didn't take her long until I was working early in the mornings, going to class in the afternoon, taking her out, or cuddling with her on the couch giving her the attention she expected until she went to bed. Then, of course, I would have to stay up late to study and grab maybe a few hours of sleep before I started the process all over again. Heaven forbid if I fell asleep on the couch while watching a movie, or if I refused to take her to a nice restaurant because I was broke. If either of those things happened, all hell would break loose. She would start crying and yelling about how I didn't appreciate and love her. Then she would start screaming threats like, "Maybe I should leave you and find someone else who can take care of me and focus on my well-being." Then, if that didn't have me groveling, I would get the cold shoulder, a locked bedroom door, and certainly no sex until she decided to have mercy on me.
