I stayed for the myriad of reasons stated above. I joined the military to learn to defend myself. Thought they could not hurt me anymore. I stayed close to home and their verbal and emotional abuse continued (you would think I would get a clue by then. But after years of abuse, sometimes it takes years to recover. I fought with them over a mate. I got cats to keem them from stopping by. They continued. And when I was diagnosed with bipolar, they suddenly started walking on eggshells around me. I did not expect that reaction from them. Do they remember the abuse they doled out, probably. I think if I sat down and explained my illness to them, I think they would stop walking on eggshells. But you know, I like things just the way they are! Big grin