He Hit Me---My Biggest Secret----Revealed

I've known Kaleb 4 years, and dated him a year, this is my story.

As soon as we were out of my house and in his truck, the comments would start. He didn't like what I was wearing, how my hair was fixed or that I hadn't had time to put on much makeup. By the time we arrived at the movie theater...I was in tears.

We went into "Casino Royale". I hate James Bond movies. Again, it didn't matter. It's what he wanted to see.

The movie was over and we head back to my house. Kaleb literally threw the cell phone at me.
"Call your mom and see if she has anything to eat. I'm not spending any more money on you tonight. You didn't appreciate what I did spend."

"You paid for the movie. I paid for popcorn, cokes and your stupid nachos". Wrong answer.

Before I knew what was happening, he balled up his fist and hit me hard. I fought tears as he snarled at me. "You think I didn't see you bawling all the way through that $7 movie? I don't know why I bother with you. You're so selfish"

"Then why do you keep coming around?" I screamed at him.

Kaleb jerked the truck to the side of the road, threw the gear shift into park and turned on me. He grabbed my arm and pulled me across the seat towards him.

"Because you love me that's why." he said. He kissed me, but there was no love or sweetness at all. It was meant as a punishment. "See?" he said when he finished. "You can't resist me. Someday, you're going to thank me for paying attention to you. You're not pretty enough to get anyone else. You still need to lose 10 pounds, even though you'll never do it eating all that butter like you did tonight."

10 pounds? I was 5'4" and a size 2, I weighed 100 pounds.
"Kaleb, I want to break up." I said. "I need to think about our relationship."

"Why?" he asked angrily. "There's nothing wrong with our relationship except your attitude."

"My attitude? At least I've never hit you!"

"I wouldn't have hit you if you hadn't made me mad." Kaleb said. "Besides, you can't make that decision, because you haven't asked Daddy yet.
You are such a baby, you don't make a move without talking to your parents first. You might as well just live with it. I'm not going anywhere. Nobody else will have you because you won't put out."

"That's what this is about? I won't sleep with you?"

"It's ok. You'll give in soon." he sounded confident.

"When hell freezes over." I mumbled. Kaleb immediately balled his fist and started towards me again.

I flinched; he laughed. We were at my house and my brother was standing on the porch. Kaleb wouldn't dare hit me in front of Seth.

I immediately went to my room, pulling off my sweater examining the bruise that had already appeared on my upper arm. My sister came into the bedroom.

"Oh my God!"

"SSSHHH!" I grabbed her and slammed the door shut.

"Ash...did Kaleb do that? He did! There are knuckle marks in that bruise"

"You can't tell Mom & Dad." I told her.

"Ashley, you can't hide that! They NEED to know." Emma was frantic.

"Emma Katherine, if you tell Mom & Dad, I will never speak to you again as long as I live." I hissed at her. I put the sweater back on.

My sister looked miserable but nodded her head in agreement. "I love you, Ashley...but you're wrong" and walked out.

That week at school, I was changing for our basketball game, and realized that our uniforms were sleeveless. I had a bruise on my arm.

Seth's girlfriend comes into the locker room. Katie swung me around to look at my left arm. "Ashley!"

"Katie, you can't tell." I pleaded.

"How are you going to cover that up?"

"I'm going to wear a t-shirt under my uniform. It's legal, so I can still play." I took Katie's hands in mine. "Please, if you're my friend, you won't tell anyone ".

Katie promised, through her tears. "You can't see him again."

"I'm going to tell him next time he comes that it's over."

For 2 months, Katie and Emma kept my secret, and then Kaleb and I had a huge fight in the school parking lot. I told him I never wanted to see him again.

Kaleb took a step towards me. "What did you say?" His hands were tight fists.

I looked up into his eyes and saw the anger and I was scared. I felt an arm go around my shoulders. The arm belonged to my friend Mark. "Hit her... and see where you land."

Kaleb shoved away from me and started to walk away, but turned back. "You'll always be mine."

Emma and Katie came running across the parking lot.

"Did he hit her again?" Katie screamed.

"Again?" asked my brother. "When did Kaleb hit you?"

"In November." said Emma and Katie.

"You knew?" Seth was furious.

Telling my mom and dad was the hardest, but best decision I've ever made.

Two years later, I'm in a relationship with Mark. He loves me unconditionally.

The CDC Injury Center says that 1 out of 11 dating teenagers report being hit . Those involved say they were told what to wear, what friends they could hang out with, and where they can go. Physical abuse is usually coupled with mental abuse. The victim is exposed to put-downs, humiliation, insults and threats. The abuser will sometime withdraw their attention to "punish" their girlfriend, and in some cases boyfriends.

I've been there, and I'm telling you there's help, and there's a way out. The first step is to tell someone. Then get some counseling. A teacher, a pastor, or your doctor. It's time to take back your life.