Why didn't I leave?

It started with the pinching. Then the "light" punches. At first it wasn't hard enough to leave a mark. It just stung.Soon it started bruising. Then I was wearing long sleeves and long skirts every day. Then I had to lie to my Momma and say I'd hit my face on a cabinet door. She didn't believe me. The nurse didn't believe me about slamming my wrist in the car door and breaking it.

He left me. He said I was too old and a frigid bitch. I'm glad he left. But I wish I had left first. I still don't understand why I stayed.