Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 59713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
I sat there on the floor, my hand still clutching my phone tightly, and let the tears flow. I had been making an afternoon snack when my phone rang. As soon as I saw the name on the screen, I picked it up and held on to it with an iron grip.
But I didn’t need to be anxious. I finally got some good news. My life was finally starting to fall into place.
It was exactly what I needed. It gave me the breath of air I felt like I had been desperately gasping for for so long.
My doomed relationship with Doug had distracted me and taken me off the path I’d planned for myself a long time ago. I had already graduated from college when I met him. I’d intended on immediately pursuing my teaching certificate so I could start my career as soon as possible. Only, that didn’t happen. Doug swept me off my feet, and very quickly, I was totally wrapped up in what I thought was a glorious relationship.
But it didn’t take very long for me to realize he was a master manipulator. What I thought was incredible romance and chivalry actually turned out to be his way of getting me under his thumb. By the time I realized what he was doing, he was already controlling everything I did. I had given up student teaching. I was no longer actively searching for a teaching position to go after when I had my certificate. He was even trying to keep me from Fiona.
That was what really brought everything into clear focus. He was horrific to me, and there were many times when I avoided going out of the place we shared because of the bruises. I had cut off all my other friends and didn’t interact with anybody other than Fiona. That was all her doing. She refused to back off and have the strong bond we created in college fall apart because of a man.
She didn’t know everything that was going on behind closed doors. I didn’t open up to her the way I should have, and I always managed to keep the evidence hidden when she would show up to see me. But she suspected something. She asked questions. She pushed for me to be honest with her. When Doug would make comments about me, she stood up for me. And when he would tell her she needed to leave, she would push back and tell him she would stay as long as she wanted, that he couldn’t tell her what to do.
There were times when it made things between Doug and me worse, but even in those times, I was glad for it. She had the strength during those moments I didn’t have, and I enjoyed seeing someone put him in his place. It was those shows of strength and unwavering loyalty to me that eventually gave me the courage to push back and get out.
When I was out from under him and he was where he belonged, held behind bars awaiting trial for all the charges I pressed against him, I was able to see myself again. I could see my own life, the things I still wanted and what I hoped could still be a reality. It was hard to find traction and get things going again, and there were days when I thought my chances were gone, that I threw the opportunity away and was going to have to find some other dream. Or maybe not a dream at all, but just some way to survive.
But that call changed everything. It proved I did still have room in my life for dreams and the ability to make those dreams into reality.
A few weeks back, I found out the computer science teacher at the local high school was retiring at the end of the school year, and the school didn’t have a replacement lined up for him. They were taking applications, and I gathered up the courage to submit mine. Even though I didn’t technically have my teaching credentials yet, I told them I would by the end of the year and listed my degree and other qualifications.
Getting called in for an interview felt like a good first step. It was at least a cautious movement in the right direction. I felt like the interview had gone fairly well, but then they hadn’t called. It was a blow, even if it was somewhat expected.
But then the call came. Not only did I impress them with my resume, but they thought my interview was great and that I would be an ideal fit in the school. The fact that I didn’t have my certificate yet wasn’t at all a problem for them. They said I could combine my student teaching hours with my work schedule and get my credentialing in a real-world scenario.