A novel of personal growth By Ms. B This story is about how I survived an abusive marriage for 10 years. How I eventually plucked up the courage to walk away and how I survived the months that followed. How I realised that I wasn't the only one who felt an obligation and loyalty to my abuser. How I realised how many woman stay in the relationship because they are conditioned to believe that they will never survive on their own. How abuse becomes such an integral part of your life that you can't seem to survive without it. This book is dedicated to all those women who have been through abuse, emotional, physical, sexual and verbal. To all those women who are still going through it, I hope my story gives you some courage to walk away. Some courage to realise that you don't deserve it, you never deserved it. Courage to realise that there is life after abuse. There is happiness waiting for you. This book is also dedicated to my life lines, all the people in my inner circle who saved me. My friends, my colleagues, my family, my psychiatrist and my psychologist. This is my story.