It had to be eight years ago to the minute, Savannah had stood against the kitchen sink, tapping her hip on the edge of the counter, drinking her first coffee of the day. Having only the night before met a man that held her interest for the first time in three years. Three years prior Savannah had hoped to never know or talk to another man EVER AGAIN! Of course that had changed. Realistically, how could you do that? But at that moment, three year ago Savannah was quite determined to make that happened. As Savannah sipped her coffee, her angora cat Shadow wrapped herself around her leg, meowing up at her, Shadows soft fur tickling Savannah’s calf. She and Savannah had many counseling sessions about men, and Shadow agreed with her, that Savannah should stay away from them and focus all attention on her!
Being a lonely Cat Lady was not something Savannah wanted to aspire to either. And furthermore, Shadow hated cats, how was she to be a Cat Lady with only one cat, Savannah asked her in no uncertain terms. She had no idea either and really had no interest in her dilemma about another cat; she sauntered off for more fascinating territory. Savannah watched her little furry butt wiggle into the living room, her tail straight up in the air, flicking like a propeller as she disappeared around the corner. She was usually helpful in these situations, meowing her ascent or displeasure at whatever situation arose. She was the most opinionated female Savannah had ever come across and that day was unusual for her. Savannah called after her, "Thanks a lot Miss Queen Bee, you are no help whatsoever!" Of course she gave her usual retort, a silent toss of her fuzzy tail before she disappeared. "How rude!" Savannah murmured into her cup.
Three years had past, since her last relationship. Savannah had gotten on with her life quite well, had ‘found’ herself once more, started to train again, (Savannah had been a runner years ago and had lost touch with it through life’s little episodes that seem to throw you so painfully off track), Savannah was successful at her job, had the world by the tail for the first time in probably twelve years!
Twelve years of hell was dead and gone and Savannah was ready for a real life again, one that included a man. But did she trust herself? She had been in two abusive relationships prior, thus being on her own for three years. One had been physical, taking five years of her life, plummeting it into the ground and grinding it under a metaphorical boot. The second was just as destructive but this one seemed so much more insidious and wrong. The mind games, and control this person held over her took seven years to shed. The physical abuse had taken its toll, taking her self esteem and smashing it with a sledge hammer, which took Savannah into a relationship that took the rest of her self respect and threw it over the proverbial cliff.
By the time Savannah escaped she was a shell of her former self, having gained one hundred pounds, dark circles under her eyes, sallow skin, and limp hair were only a few indications of her pathway into darkness. She had told no one, she thought she was strong enough to fight this out on her own, plus she was ashamed that she had allowed not only one man but two try to take over her life. She had hit rock bottom, her first ex had beaten her into submission so many times that the second had an easy job of just having to control her, what she said and what she did, how she dressed and where she was to go. Savannah really had no where to go and was at her wits end before she let her best friend help her claw her way back, she fought, kicked, and screamed her way out, having the chutzpa as they say, to shed eighty of those unwanted pounds, working out every day and getting herself back on a regiment that suited her. It was a long road back but Savannah had survived. Savannah was on a track to deal with whatever came her way. She had let her life lead her far too long; it had been long overdue for her to start leading her own life. Allowing people to destroy her, and that was really what it was, Savannah gave both these men permission to drag her through a knot hole, it was time to pick herself up and dust herself off. Get a new perspective on things and get on with doing what she loved to do. Savannah was thriving and happy, but had she learned anything about men on the way? Had she just been hiding? Did she learn how to deal with men, or had she just taken a hiatus? It had been three years, a new wardrobe, and a new lease on life. Savannah was doing well on her own, should she add another cog in the wheel of success and add a man again?
