An abused woman's eyes say so much...

Last week I went to Subway to get Mike and I some subs. As I was in line I noticed some obvious grandparents and they had their grandkids with them (4 kids ranging from 6-12, so they were older kids). I noticed the woman doing all the work and getting the kids drinks and trying to get them taken care of while the man just sat at the booth. I heard the man bark at her, "What do you mean you forgot the chips?!?" She seemed to apologize and let him know that she could go and grab some. He continued to talk sternly to her telling her to shut up several times and saying that she created this situation and now she is causing a scene. As I got my subs, I went to get something to drink and kept hearing the verbal abuse that ensued over stupid bags of chips. I was wearing sunglasses which was a good thing because I started tearing up. I had to leave. I wanted to say something to her, to him, to the kids. I wanted to save her. I saw her weary face and the sadness behind her eyes and in her heart. Her eyes were saying, "Please don't judge me. I don't know how to leave and I will never make it. I am so tired of doing this. I just love him so much and no one else will want me." This lady was older so I know this had gone on so many times. I was filled with anger and rage and unbelievable sadness. My ears filled with the sound of my ex screaming at me in public and everything I had forgotten came back like a flood within an instant. I had forgotten the humiliation and the constantly trying to keep him calm so he won't make people look at us. All I wanted to do was get home and crawl into Michaels arms and know that I was safe. I burst into tears as I climbed in my car and bawled so hard all the way home as I cried out to God to help her and to ease her pain. I was so very angry that I couldn't help her. I couldn't save her. I couldn't let her know that she deserved better than that. I couldn't let him know what a sorry piece of shit coward he was. I couldn't let the kids know that people aren't supposed to treat the ones they love like that. I just got in my car and walked away from her tragedy. I just left. I left her there to suffer, to hurt, to be humiliated, to grieve silently for her soul. I know that had I said something it may have been worse for her when they got home but I wanted her to know that I know what she feels. I couldn't do that. As a society we just have learned to leave people alone in their own situations, to not get involved. I can't get her painful eyes out of my head. I remember looking out through those eyes. I remember seeing the world through those sad painful eyes, hoping that someone would release me from the prison I was in with him. I know she feels the same way. My heart aches that there are so many woman that feel like that. And there is nothing any of us can do when we see these women in public. Nothing. If you do say something, it will be worse for her. I keep wanting to save them all and am tormented that I can't do it. It's up to them. They need to know that they can leave. It's not easy. Quite the opposite, it's hell. Trying to figure out how to survive when someone has told you how to dress, what to say, and how to do anything is tremendously difficult. But it's possible to do. Freedom is a great thing and I am lucky that I never have to look out from those eyes again. I just wish that they could look out of my eyes and know that love exists out there for them...they just have to break the chains and go find it. I did. And I now know the meaning of true and utter happiness. May God comfort them and show them the strength they need in order to live a good life.