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abusers.
    Most of her  friends  had told Aurora that abusive men step up their threatening and manipulative behavior right after their significant other leaves. As a result, they began to fear more severe abuse if they refused to return. The situation also becomes more complicated when there are children involved, as many women go back in the belief that doing so is the only way to protect their children. Aurora knew that many women act as human shields, sacrificing themselves to stop abusive mates from harming their children.
    Sometimes, the abusers persuade their spouse or lover to stay by telling them that they will not be able to support themselves alone. There were even times that while trying to leave an abusive relationship, the legal system would sometimes nose-dive the victim by failing to grant a restraining order or by giving the batterer custody of the children.
    Also, what most didn’t understand was that a woman’s self-esteem gets so damaged that she lacks the self-confidence to sustain independence from her abuser. Many of the women who leave abusive relationships have trouble earning an adequate income or finding safe and affordable housing. The women then went on to tell her that they felt compelled to return to the relationship because they lacked the proper resources and support. And that was what Aurora wanted to provide for them, resources and above all, support.
    Once at  Aurora's Place , the  friend  was given her own room with her own space. After days or weeks of healing time and therapy, the friend was told to make up a list of priorities, goals, wants, and needs. Then during a one on one session with Aurora, they would discuss how to make the goals possible and nine times out of ten the goals were obtainable. Thanks to Aurora, the board of directors and countless others, all of the  friends  were able to move on with their lives.
    Aurora's friend Renee had told her the story of another victim of domestic violence. This woman came into the ER claiming that she fell down a flight of steps. But being a nurse for over eight years, Renee knew that this was not the case. And when she got the woman alone, Renee gently pressed her for the truth about what happened. The woman broke down in tears and told her that it was her husband who'd pushed her.
    "He pushed," she told her. "Because I asked him if he could wait a moment for his dinner while I attended to the laundry."
    "No," he'd told her and proceeded to push her down the stairs. She told Renee that it wasn’t the first time and how she once went to his family for help. What her spouse's family told the woman stunned Renee. They told her that maybe she was to blame; that maybe she caused the abuse. Her spouse's family told her that the abuse seemed bearable, and she'd be best to deny its existence altogether.
    "In this day and age, can you believe that shit?" Renee asked Aurora.
    "What happened to the woman Renee? I hope that she was able to get some help."
    Renee shook her head. "Right after she finished telling me her story, her husband had come to collect her. He made her sign herself out of the hospital against medical advice."
    Aurora let out a sigh. "It's sad when they think there are no other options."
    Renee patted her friend on the knee. "But now they have you my friend, now they have you."
     
    Chapter Two
     
    Warding off the chill of the October morning, Rosie flipped up the hood of her sweatshirt, then glanced at her cell. This was the part that terrified her, the leaving. The building of anticipation for the challenge that was about to come. Her boyfriend was at work, had been for the past hour. She had called, just to make sure. Now it was time to put her belongings in the car and go.
    She had read up about  Aurora's Place  online. She noted that only a telephone number was given and that the address, for whatever reason was not listed. She would call and see what it was all about. It was so early when she called, she was