In the book, The Silent Wife, Maggie marries into the Farinelli family and gains a daughter and all of Nico's family. Nico's mother insists that all of her children live across the street from her, and that she has a key to their homes so she can come and go as she pleases. Kate isn't comfortable with all of the closeness of her new family, but she loves Nico, so she tries to make the best of it as the newest member of the Farinielli family. Massimo, Nico's brother, and his wife, Lara live next door with their son, Sandro.
Lara and Sandro both seem quiet and reserved, and Maggie assumes they are just frightened of everything. But what is going on behind closed doors? What secrets is Lara hiding from the Farinelli family? From herself? From her son? Maggie at first thinks Lara and Sandro have some strange phobias, but then she realizes that something more sinister is involved. Very, very sinister.
This story has a somewhat happy ending, but many stories about abuse do not.
I have known women who have been abused, whom I have suspected have been abused, or continue to be abused by someone they love. How is this allowed to happen? Why is this allowed to continue?
Sometimes women don't even recognize that they are being abused - whether is it emotional, or mental. They might feel that something is a bit off, but they also blame themselves and feel that if they had done a better job of this, or been a better wife, or hadn't worn that particular dress, or whatever the case may be, he wouldn't have become angry.
Some women are even made to believe that they deserve the physical abuse. They didn't meet his expectations, or they could have done better. Society doesn't help much. Women often keep their stories to themselves. When a woman does come forward, many (even other women) tend to discredit her and discount her story. Why? When a woman is brave enough to share her story, why we do we often assume she deserves what she received?
This must stop. NO ONE deserves to be abused - EVER. Until we stop letting the abusers make excuses, these behaviors will continue. I have seen a lot of things posted on social media of recent. What shocks me the most is women turning against other women who have been abused. Stand against abuse of all kinds. Stand for each other. Stop making judgements and be supportive of each other.
If you feel you are being abused, there is help out there - https://www.thehotline.org/.
There are also people who really care. Turn to them. xo.
