I'm glad you feel seen. Too many of us have experienced this - men and women both! And it needs to be exposed and young people warned.

I married a man I pitied when I was 18. He was 30. Thankfully I had a supportive family who helped me escape. And yes, it was an escape. One day while he was at work. But not before he held a pillow over my 2 year old daughter's face so hard that it broke blood vessels up and down her neck and bruised her cheek.

Believe me when I say, if you can leave, you should. And if you can't, then figure out how.