If You’re in a Toxic Relationship, Know You’re Not Trapped

Toxic relationships are terrifying.

The other day I was just getting gas before work when another car drove up with a girl screaming crying in the passenger seat. They pulled up to the pump next to me and the guy got out and yelled at the girl, who was still crying so hard it looked painful. He said, "Oh shut up you (expletive) loser." He slammed the door and went inside.

The girl started crying so hard she was literally SCREAMING at the top of her lungs. When I tell you I was shaken to my core, I mean it. I was about to walk over just to be like "Hey, you good?" but then the guy came marching back out. He said something I couldn't hear to her and she kept losing it.

I stood there for at least a full minute, just staring trying to decide what the hell to do. I wanted to say something but assumed that would a) result in a fight and b) I can't fight c) There's a good chance if I interject in any way, this just ends up 10 times worse for her. I sort of just lingered there for another minute.

He didn't say anything else to her and she was still crying uncontrollably but not with the same severity. I looked at her, and when she looked back she just turned away. I decided to go, assuming the worst may have been over. Then as I pulled off, I saw him in my rearview fling the door open and start screaming at her and pointing at my car. Clearly he knew I noticed.

I don't know what happened after that, but I hope and pray this girl can escape this guy somehow. She and no other woman, hell no other person, deserves that kind of treatment.

Basically I just want to make sure that everyone on here that can see and read this post, if you're in a relationship like this, if you feel trapped in a toxic, abusive relationship, if you don't think you have anyone to turn to, you do.

If you need someone to talk to or somewhere to stay, please reach out to someone. Anyone. You don't deserve that. It's so hard to see something like that play out. It's so hard to know that it happens far more regularly than it should. There’s about 100 different things I wish I did in that scenario, so know there are people that want to help.

If you still feel uncomfortable reaching out to friends then call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Also remember that, while I saw no physical abuse, verbal abuse can be just as painful.

You're not trapped.