You just can't put a price on some things.
I make no secret of the fact that I was once a battered wife. Shit happens, some people are psychopaths. Obviously, in this scenario, you have but one option: get the hell out. As I genuinely feared for my life after a threequarter-arsed strangulation attempt from my husband’s brother and a threat of making that a one whole asphyxiation if I left, I figured that my best chance of survival came from fleeing the country. I thought I was being clever by squirreling away every last penny – I reckoned that he wouldn’t suspect a thing if I put it in our shared savings.

This was to be my living money until the divorce became final, until I got at least half of the house, car and fripperies I paid for out of my wages.

Find out, though, I was rather stupid. Of course he was going to notice me packing my bags. Of course he was going to notice the $24,000 extra in our bank account. Just before I left, he came home with a brand new motorbike and threw me against a wall, and that lasting bruise was the only thing I had to show for years of hard work. I had nothing but a plane ticket and two suitcases worth of clothing to my name.

Over the course of a weekend, I went from owning a house, a sports car, an SUV, a boat, a share of a holiday home and personal savings of $24,0000 to having absolutely nothing. I didn’t get a penny from the divorce, in fact, I reckon I lost about $300,000 in total.

But how much did I actually lose, if it saved my life?
(TheSnark oh, c'mon, like you didn't see me coming, Mon 17 May 2010, 12:26, 13 replies)

Puts my current emo ramblings about shitty ex into perspective.
Glad you got through it.
( girlinthehole, Mon 17 May 2010, 12:32, closed)

The thing is...
...if somebody fucks with your head and emotions, then those are the things to scar.

If somebody just kicks the shit out of you, well, only your bones get broken.
(TheSnark oh, c'mon, like you didn't see me coming, Mon 17 May 2010, 14:07, closed)

I guess you're right but I still think you rock.

( girlinthehole, Mon 17 May 2010, 15:23, closed)

You also kept your dignity
which is better than a SUV.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Mon 17 May 2010, 12:34, closed)

Lack of dignity...
...is still better than a SUV.
(TheSnark oh, c'mon, like you didn't see me coming, Mon 17 May 2010, 14:06, closed)

Christ, that's harsh
hope you're all ok now, best thing you did though leaving :)
( Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Mon 17 May 2010, 12:55, closed)

Honestly?
It takes more strength to stay, but that is the stupid option.
(TheSnark oh, c'mon, like you didn't see me coming, Mon 17 May 2010, 14:10, closed)

Wow
Better to have come away sane and alive than anything else.

I'm stumped as to how you came away with nothing though - did you ever report him to the police?
(james_tiger_woods is going to start his killing spree on the, Mon 17 May 2010, 13:02, closed)

I did, yes.
But they tend to turn the blind eye to 'domestic arguments'.

I knew a woman whose ex-husband, even after taking a staple gun to her head, wasn't arrested.
(TheSnark oh, c'mon, like you didn't see me coming, Mon 17 May 2010, 13:58, closed)

Apologies
- but maybe he wanted to see what she looked like as a centrefold!!
(the_icks has the sweet essence of giraffe, Mon 17 May 2010, 14:07, closed)

My Ex boss
Who resides in Texas but originally from Colorado thought it would be cool to get a trophy wife, you know the type blonde blue eyes, much younger than him....Recently he caught her cheating on him with a man much older but much richer than him. To date he has spent about $400,000 in maintenance and living costs and that's before the custody battle for the kids has started. They bugged his car, as part of the deal is not to talk to the kids about what a cheating harlot their mother is. Naturally he didn't stick to the deal and they recorded it and used it as a bargaining chip to extort even more funds from him. The point is I thought that you would at least get half of everything owned, especially as you had to live with this asshole, that’s worth the whole estate on it’s own. Is it because you didn't want to have anything to do with this guy so you didn't negotiate?.....or is the law an ass? In Texas the law protects the lady much more but appreciate it changes from state to state.

Anyways glad that the situation is better and hope your confidence is on the mend?
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Mon 17 May 2010, 14:33, closed)

I couldn't afford a lawyer...
...and I was an ocean away. He successfully argued that I abandoned him.
(TheSnark oh, c'mon, like you didn't see me coming, Mon 17 May 2010, 15:10, closed)

hmmm
I guess the law is an ass then.
(bROKEN aRROW PUA HVI Master, Mon 17 May 2010, 17:18, closed)

Well done.
You've clearly survived a terrible ordeal with your sanity & dignity intact.
I hope *he* spends the rest of his life regretting his behaviour/ losing you.
Take care you.
( Tab Hunter Make this useless process end and so, begin again, Tue 18 May 2010, 12:01, closed)