The first step was to document every one of Marcus’s outbursts. At first, the fear was paralyzing. But the thought of a future where a daughter might suffer the same fate gave her the strength she needed. Now, every shout, every insult, every threat was recorded on a hidden digital recorder, becoming a silent witness to her suffering.

The real turning point came after a particularly vicious argument where Marcus smashed her favorite vase, a gift from her late mother. As she swept up the glittering shards, she realized she was sweeping up the broken pieces of her own life. She knew she could no longer do this alone.