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Leslie Terry was in an abusive relationship for 8 years. Now Northeast Ohio woman helps others by sharing her story

Leslie was in a relationship that mirrors what domestic violence experts outline - it starts out loving and supportive, until her partner became abusive.

CLEVELAND — John Orlando, Bobby George, Anthony Rubino. These are just a few local men accused and charged with domestic violence in the last three months here in Cleveland. It's a situation that is all too prevalent, but one that is often hidden. And one woman can talk very candidly about what it's like.

Leslie Terry says she lived with abuse for eight years. She was in a relationship that mirrors what domestic violence experts outline - it starts out loving and supportive, until her partner became abusive.

"I started to come to work with all these bruises on me. And mind you, before I got in a relationship with this man, I was smiling, you know, happy going to work. And then all of a sudden, here it comes. I'm coming with the bruises. I was coming with the black eyes," she recalled in a recent interview with 3News. "I lived in fear. Um, let's say I could be at work all day. I didn't want to go home."

Terry says she felt like she had to reach her own bottom before leaving - and that someone on the outside of the relationship can't tell a victim when they're ready.

"I look at it like, no one knows exactly what you're going through if they're not in your shoes. They don't know how difficult it is to leave."

You might be wondering how she healed from that. Well - she wrote a book, because she doesn't want anyone else to live through what she lived through.

She wants to give a purpose to that pain.

"I love life now. I love the life that I live now. I am happier. I am more outgoing. I, I'm talk, well I'm talking to already. I love to talk," she said with a smile.

I asked her what's her one piece of advice for someone in that situation? She says don't wait to get out. Craft a plan, where to go, how to leave safely, who can help you. And leave as soon as you can.

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to an end, please know there are resources to help if you or someone you love is in a situation that you or they don't know how to leave.

  • You can reach the Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.
  • You can find additional resources for help by clicking here.
  • And you can buy Leslie's book "My Story, My Life" here.

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