"You don't come across as someone who has been wounded." The woman said across the table while taking a sip through the straw of her Starbucks coffee.
That was the ultimate compliment.
I hadn't shared much. Just a sentence or two. A brief overview.
I had been encouraged to share with her my personal story by our mutual contact.
***
It was in the downtown Hartford Marriott's Starbucks.
I was nervous.
I was excited.
Mostly, I was ready to take the world by the horns.
***
Earlier that morning I said to my friend: "Who would have thought 4 short years ago, that today I would be preparing for a meeting over coffee in a downtown Hartford coffee shop with a VP of a huge company? Who would have thought the girl who had to hide to sleep and feared for her and her children's life would be meeting with such a professional networking contact as this?"
***
That meeting took place a few months ago.
But today, especially today, her words are echoing in my heart.
It was today, I stood my ground and said "no more".
Over the next few weeks I gave him the ultimate ultimatum:
Either us, his family or cocaine his addiction.
In the end he chose cocaine.
***
There was a time when that was hard.
To have the reality that someone would choose cocaine over me.
Over his CHILDREN!
But I'm okay. I'm stronger now. Maybe even a little too tough.
One thing is for sure. And that is that I am happy.
Happier than I have been in decades.
I love life.
I laugh.
I smile.
I joke.
I'm not afraid to live anymore.
I'm not wounded.
He didn't destroy me.
Almost.
But I stood up and fought.
And conquered it.
I am no longer wounded because I am healed.
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