They called him Mr. Wonderful

A friend I went to High School with introduced me to a guy she knew. From the first, everything appeared as if we were a match made in heaven. He did all the things that would make a woman swoon: bought roses, took carriage rides, talked about me constantly to others (and they would tell me too). From the outside looking in, he was Mr. Wonderful. The only person that didn't really care for him was my Mom.

After we became sexually active, his propensity towards porn (watching and acting it out) became the dominant factor in the relationship. I hated it. There was something on the inside of me that knew that this was wrong. But who could I talk to about how I felt? Others thought he was so good to me. Over time, his actions toward me felt more like he thought he was entitled to me and what I had: my car, my money and my body. One night after we'd gone to a wedding reception, we went back to his apartment and he wanted sex and I didn't. I told him so. The next thing I knew, he ripped off my pantyhose and panties and forced himself on me. Who do I tell about what happened? I mean, he's my boyfriend and we are already having sex. Who's going to believe that he had to force me? So I told no one.

I didn't leave him, I didn't know how. How do you leave Mr. Wonderful? He had already started to make me feel that no one else would want me. So I stayed as busy as I could so that we wouldn't have to spend much time together. My best friend was getting married in another state and he agreed to go with me and split the cost of the trip. By this time, he'd moved back in with his Grandparents in their basement. I stopped by one afternoon to get his half of the money and I waited for 45 minutes on the porch for him to come out of the house. Finally his Grandfather said for me to go in because he must have forgotten I was there. When I got to his room, he was laying in bed talking on the phone with another woman. I went to his bedside and hung up the phone. The next thing I knew, he had his hands around my throat strangling me. I struggled as I tried to hit at him as well as get away. I couldn't breathe and he didn't seem to care.

When I opened my eyes, I was sprawled out in the floor and the first things I saw were the legs of the table and chair in the kitchen area. How did I get here? How long was I out? Where is he? Then I heard running water. He was in the bathroom taking a shower getting ready for work. Is this all he thought of my life? Did he even know if I was alive or dead? Did he even care? I knew I had to get out of the house. I don't remember how I got to my car but once I was seated inside, I started to shake all over. I couldn't drive because I didn't know if I would stop shaking long enough to get home safely. After a while, I heard a noise. I looked up and I saw him walking down the street. He was headed to his Aunt's house because she had started taking him to work. I started my car, put my foot on the gas and aimed my car right at him. I chased him until he ran toward this big tree and started to climb. I don't know how I stopped my car in time before I went head on with the tree because all I could see was me pinning him with my car to that tree. I wanted him DEAD!