Chapter 42 I Am Broken Too

“Do I pity you, Hollis? No. I have been with men who beat me, tortured me, and degraded me. For him, my pain was his pleasure. Five long years. I hope for that one day that he will change and treat me with kindness, but it never came.” I bared my heart to Hollis, sharing my own experiences of abuse and betrayal. “I know how it feels to be trapped in a cycle of hope and disappointment, too long for love and kindness that never comes. I don’t pity you, Hollis, but I pity myself for not having the strength to leave sooner.”
“Why are you saying that?” Hollis asked, looking puzzled. “Because even if your wife dies, her betrayal has still left a lasting mark on you, and until you confront that pain and heal from it. You are trapped in the toxic cycle of not trusting yourself or others.” Hollis nodded slowly, his eyes filled with tears as he realized the truth in my words. “You think in the end everyone will let you down, but that’s not true. You have the power to break free from this cycle and find happiness again.” Hollis went quiet for a moment, processing my words. “And who will be there to help me break free from this cycle?” he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Will you…,”
I stared at Hollis as his words stuck a chord within me. “I...” I hesitated, unsure of my own ability to help him break free from his toxic cycle.