Trigger warning: physical/emotional abuse playlist After ending a nearly two and half year relationship with my child's "father" (sperm donor), I have learned that abuse takes many forms and can often be so much more complex and nuanced than the narrative I grew up seeing. I thought domestic violence came in one form: the perpetrator, a man, has uncontrollable anger, comes home and towers over his partner, a woman, and- seemingly unprovoked, or perhaps provoked by something minute- transfers his anger into his fist and decorates his partner's face with a bruise or two that she hopes will fade and softly sink back into her once smooth skin before any friends or family notice. This is surely one form of abuse, but it wasn't my experience. My story is a lot more complicated but just as sad, painful, and traumatic. One of those experiences that cuts inside to your inner most core, scoops out that sacred part of you you thought was untouchable, and splatters ...