Those seemingly "harmless" flaws of his, could kill you.

"You never know what you got until it's gone"

Lucky for me, I realized what I had when it was almost gone instead of actually gone.

My story behind this is of what happened to my boyfriend earlier tonight. He was in his parked car, just about to step out. As he set his foot on the pavement, he heard an enraged voice shout, "Jeremy!" That obviously being his name, made him look. What he saw was a horrifying sight: a young man who had been threatening both of our lives for months. Before tonight we believed that the trouble had ceased, and our let our guards down. However, this boy was ready to fulfill all of his evil promises he had made to us months prior. The boy got into a car chase with my boyfriend, Jeremy, down the 405 freeway. I was terrified for Jeremy, wishing that the worst would not come. Who knows what could have happened if Jeremy had been unable to get him off his tail? He could have been beaten and hospitalized, or worse I could have lost him, and the silly, fun-loving, happy couple in the picture above would not exist as a couple anymore.

So why am I sitting up at two in the morning sharing this story? Because after what I experienced tonight I find it necessary to share how important it is in picking romantic relationships. Just under two years ago I began a relationship with someone who I knew deep down was never going to be good enough for me. He smoked pot, believed college was foolish, settled for dead-end jobs, and dreamed of living a life of laziness. Caught up in teenage puppy love, I fell for all of his charades. He somehow had me believing that he was going to live a life of luxury off of dormancy. I put myself through hell for just under a year of a relationship with him, and for what? Simply pain.

Why did I let it happen? Why did I fall for all of his tricks? Honestly, who knows? I made a foolish mistake, and now myself and my (understanding) boyfriend are paying to hell for it. My now ex-boyfriend is the boy who got into a car chase with my new (and much better suitor) boyfriend, Jeremy, on a freeway in LA.

THIS IS A WARNING TO ALL GIRLS AND WOMEN. Everyday, a woman falls to domestic violence. A good number of which actually lose their lives in the process.

Not to talk myself up, but I am a smart, determined, brave, and wise young woman. If it can happen to me, it can happen to just about anyone. Always watch for strange behaviors. If you see one red flag sign, get the hell out of there before the situation escalades to something equal to or worse than my current one. If you love them, fuck it. I loved mine too. I truly cared for him. But the destruction on me wasn't worth it, and I should have ended that relationship far sooner than I did. However, because I shamefully clinged to my "love" for him, I am now in a ready-to-dial-911 situation tonight, and it may exceed into tomorrow.

I want all girls and women to be careful. Let's face it, men are built to be stronger and faster, it is a scientific fact. If they snap one day they will hurt us if they get the chance. I want all girls and women in relationships with red flag signs to get out. It may seem hard, and unnecessary now, but you will be kicking yourself if you do not do it soon. I was lucky; I got out before it got to the point to where I couldn't, and even still I am paying for it. Get out of these violent and potentially violent relationships. THE PRICE YOU PAY MAY BE YOUR LIFE IF YOU DON'T!