*** Triggers of sexual abuse and drug use***

So last August my sister's husband raped her. He has also been abusive from the beginning. She pressed charges and he is currently in jail awaiting sentencing for up to 5 years in prison.

Last night my sister told me she is going to try and drop the charges against him or at least lessen them. She says she still loves him, which I understand, but I don't understand how she feels the relationship would work out because he was always mentally and emotionally abusive and also raped her. She has always been codependent and afraid of being alone, but this seems to be a bit extreme.

She has also been using a lot more drugs than she had been using. It is to the point where it was making me worry about her safety. She says that the reason she has been using more drugs is because she feels bad about pressing charges against her husband. They have a daughter together and she feels that she is taking the chance away from her daughter and husband to be able to know each other while their daughter grows up.

Before last night I was worried about her increased drug abuse because she has a daughter who depends on her and she should put her daughter first instead of drugs. Now that I got the news about her wanting to get back together with her husband and drop charges has me even more worried about my niece. The relationship between my sister and her husband was a terrible influence on their daughter before the rape and I can only imagine how bad it will be when my sister gets back together with him.

I am worried that he will rape her again and continue to abuse her in other ways. I am also worried for the mental welfare of my niece because of her having to be raised in an environment like that.

I told my sister that her happiness is most important to me and that my displeasure with the situation is not as important. I am very upset about the whole situation though. I know she will be abused again, and her husband might go as far as raping her again. My sister and niece deserve so much better than that.

I have no idea how to cope with this situation or how to react towards my sister concerning her decision. She will do whatever she wants so I know trying to talk her out of it is pointless.

If anyone has any advice for me I am all ears. I have no idea what to do.