Recorded September 7, 2021 We had been through so much together, my mother’s death, the anti-trafficking movement, our son’s life-threatening illness, and a hurricane. We clung to each other and had survived the darkness, but when things were slightly more stable… he leaves. I felt like it was my fault. I brought up my pain too much, but the pain never stopped. I was relieved he was leaving, yet the responsibility of parenting and paying bills was more than I could handle alone. From October 2021 to August 2023, we lived separately but were neighbors and he worked on my property. The children and I focused on healing our relationships and selves. It was chaotic and difficult with few resources, he was always lurking, seemingly happy, and hurting himself at work. Suddenly earning income, August 2023, he provided a large home with enough space for our entire family.