[ WP ] If you 're the child of divorce , write about your life as if your parents had stayed together . If your parents are still married , write as if they just got a divorce .

She seethed as my father continued to stare at her. My sister and I waited, scared and muted. I could not tell what was going through my sister's mind, but I suspect it was the same as mine: please let this be the end. 
 
 It had been 20 long years of daily screaming, slamming of doors, and stomping of feet from the woman who had given birth to us. I almost felt bad for her. She had never had a good family life growing up; she had us so that she could'show them' that she could have a perfect family. 
 
 But no child is ever perfect, and she could not handle that simple fact. Any mistake was met with a slap; across the rear or the face depended on her mood. The screaming was loud enough to leave you deafened for a day. Every day was a mix of walking on eggshells, hoping to not disturb the beast, and attempting damage control if you did. Too bad apologizing just made her more angry. She thought you were just saying things to'shut her up'. 
 
 She was n't completely wrong on that. 
 
 But today, everything changed. We had had enough. Enough of her game-playing. Enough of her expecting us to change everything to please her. Hell, she wanted Dad to'stop eating so much' so that SHE would not be tempted to eat more so she could lose weight. Never mind that he ate normal portions for a man of his height... 
 
 Her reaction was predictable. She began to reflect the blame for her actions, accusing all of us of twisting her words, of taking things the wrong way, of hating her and wishing she was dead. She began to throw a tantrum, toddler-style. And when we did not back down, she realized she was in trouble. But she could not admit that she was wrong. So she did the only thing she could. 
 
 She walked out. 
 
 As she opened the door, my dad warned her that she would come back and find us gone. She slammed the door on her way out. 
 
 He watched as she stormed down the driveway, waited until she was out of view, and then asked my sister and me to pack our stuff. 
 
 He did n't have to ask twice. We already had emergency bags ready to go in case Mom went berserk. We grabbed what we needed, hopped in the car, and drove off. We never looked back. 
 
 We stayed with Dad's family while they worked out the divorce. She got almost everything, but Dad did n't care. He knew we would never have to deal with her threats, her gas-lighting, her violence, ever again. 
 
 We all went to family therapy, just like Dad had wanted for so many years. I finished college easily, since I finally had the help for my chronic depression and anxiety. My sister finished high school and got accepted into the five-year Master's program at her top college with a tennis scholarship, and has been handling the stress very well with the therapy. My Dad finally quit his horrible, overnight job and took one that he had been offered before that payed better and allowed him to work normal hours, and his health began to improve. His chest pains and insomnia are a thing of the past. 
 
 Finally, we got back in touch with his family, who my mother had forced us to separate from. I do not think I have ever seen a happier mother and son than my Dad and Grandma that day. 
 
 Last I heard, my mother had lost the few friends she had by trying to slander my Dad during the divorce. She has tried to send us pictures of `` how well she is doing without us'', but it is just her doing things that we had asked to do before, smiling forcibly at the camera. We do not talk to her, and my sister and I both chose to live with our Dad with no visitation with her. 
 
 It may sound harsh, but, without her around, we are finally a normal, happy family. All because my Dad finally realized what abuse looked like. 
 
 Please, if you find yourself in a controlling, emotionally manipulative, violent, or otherwise abusive situation, get out. Also, if anyone, even a man, opens up to you about abuse from a significant other, listen. 
 
 It may change the lives of several people for the better.
