I first came to Safe Horizon during the early stages of the pandemic. My son, Chosen, was just 11 months old and I was doing everything I could to stay healthy and strong for him, when the world outside felt incredibly unsafe.
My ex-partner, who had a history of violence toward me, was harassing me relentlessly. He psychologically abused me–even when he was incarcerated, he admitted to having my house watched. He always found ways to keep me in constant fear.
Then I found out he was getting out of prison. This wasn’t just a piece of bad news; it was a real threat to my life. Knowing what he was capable of, remembering the terror of his hands around my neck, I feared for my safety and my son’s life. I knew I had to leave.
Panicked, I called Safe Horizon. But as soon as I spoke to an advocate, I began to calm down. A weight I had been carrying started to lift.
The very next day, a friend picked Chosen and me up, and we went to a Safe Horizon domestic violence shelter.
When I arrived at the shelter with my son, we were treated with care and instantly felt safe. The space was clean and so comforting. They provided us with food and essentials. For the first time in years, I felt free.
Our neighborhood was filled with art galleries, and as I walked past them, I saw art hanging in those spaces – I knew that was where I wanted to be someday. One day, the shelter held a group art therapy workshop and I had hope that I might find peace to pursue my art—a passion that had felt impossible before. From the moment I joined the support group at the shelter, I started to come back to life.
When I arrived at the shelter with my son, we were treated with care and instantly felt safe . . . for the first time in years, I felt free.
Art, for me, is more than just seeing it on display—it’s been a way to reconnect with myself, express my emotions, and begin healing.
Safe Horizon gave me the gift of healing, and it’s what I carry with me now. The shelter helped me move into my own apartment with Chosen and I was able to start rebuilding my life. Now, I’m studying art therapy because I want to give others what Safe Horizon gave me: the chance to heal, the opportunity to reconnect with my passion, and the possibility of a healthy life for my son and me.