About a week ago, I had the biggest nightmare of my life... I am from British Columbia Canada.. I was with a person about a year ago... We broke up it was just to much for me. I was living with a girlfriend at the time. I really thought I loved him. We met back up and things didn't change. Just last weekend I was holed up in my own residence and he wouldn't allow me to use the phone. The next morning he started smashing things into his head. I phoned the police and they arrested him. He was in jail all week and was released this past Friday. I had my ex-husband stay with me for the weekend. I have been sleeping on my couch with the tv on. I am scared he will break in. Does the feeling of being scared ever go away? Once you break the cycle are you pretty much safe or do they keep coming back? I suppose I am scared of the unknown.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2000