I don't remember much from the night before, except that night, he was acting very odd. He was going through all of his hard drives and he had one in particular that stood out to me because he layed it on the kitchen counter. Then, he tried finding an excuse to leave the house. Offering to go to the store to get a few things. I was fearful of what his intentions were, as it seemed he "knew" that she had told. I pursuaded him to stay hom and I remember lying in bed with him that night. I was still throwing up. I couldn't stand having to be in that bed with him. I kept my back turned and hugged the very edge of the bed.
The next morning (January 6), I woke early to go to the store, just as I did every Sunday. Except, this time...I quietly woke my children. Usually, I left them there with him and I went to the store alone. This time, I went into their rooms, gave them a gentle shake immediately followed by a quiet "shhh". I got them all dressed and got all of them bundled up in their coats, hats and gloves. I gathered them all by the front door and told them to stay there. We lived in a basic two story so from the top of the steps I could look down at them standing there by the front door. As I got to the top of the steps, I turned around and looked down at them as I stood outside my bedroom door where my husband was sleeping. They all smiled and waved at me. They were standing there all safe and warm...all 5 of them (ages 9, 8, 5, 2 & 1). Suddenly, it hit me. THIS is my chance! This is my chance to keep them safe. I have to do something and I have to do it now!
I went into my room, asked him if he wanted anything from the store and told him goodbye the same as I always did. Before I even had my key in the door to lock it behind me, I was on the phone!
The police met me in the parking lot at the grocery store.
It was cold and rainy.
We went to the police station, where I filled out a report.
I remember telling the female officer "he's going to be calling me any minute because I've been gone for quite a while, what do I tell him"? She looked at me and smiled and said "honey, he's already here"!
From there, things get a little foggy! I was escorted back to the house to get a few things for my children. By then, my house had been ransacked by the police executing their search warrant. I remember saying that he was going to kill me. Then, I was questioned why I said that and they pressed charges against him for a threat he made to me some time before.
I had to take my children to the Children's Hospital so that each of them could be examined and questioned. My parents, my sister and her husband all met me down there.
The police were not able to keep my husband, he was questioned and released. I was advised not to go back to my house and to be sure I had somewhere safe to stay...preferably in a shelter outside of the area. They put me in contact with a safe house about an hour away, but I decided that may be too traumatic for my children who had no idea what the heck was going on. They were scared and confused enough all ready...so, we stayed with a family member and the police in the area were informed of our situation so they heavily patrolled the house.
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