A woman, a back road, and a crescent moon...

Short note from the author: I was scared to write about this... because:

1. What if I was in the wrong for wanting to do remote photography in the evening (between approximately 9 and 10pm) with my kids bundled up in the car trying to relax them enough to go to sleep? I mean, how dare I mix something that makes me happy into our family's routine, right?

2. I didn't want to risk being told, again, by any professionals that I somehow should have been doing less/more to protect myself from others while also telling me to not allow what happened to control me... it just makes my head ache! It does not matter where a person is. It does not matter what they were wearing. It does not matter as a crime is all on the shoulders of the individual committing it - not due to the actions of others!

3. What if it is used to attempt to show me as an unsafe parent? Only, that is exactly what is happening and my silence isn't changing that.

4. Why would I think that anyone would be able to do anything about it? I didn't have proof... beyond the bruise that somehow managed to remain.

But, I am writing this because I heard that people believed that someone I was seeing the second half of last year did this. That man is gentle, kind, and caring. That man would never, ever harm me. Sometimes I wonder if he intentionally broke my heart, but... I don't honestly believe that he intended for that to happen either. Sometimes people just hurt each other unintentionally. Maybe I am wrong, but even the term "player" doesn't fit my impression of him... he was/is too nice to be that kinda person I think. So, since people are talking, I want to for sure say: The guy that I was seeing, who is no longer even my friend (his words), did not do this. I do know that is 110% true and factual.

I do not care if people talk badly about me, but I draw that line at spreading lies about someone that is innocent. I know exactly who started the rumor... and... they should be ashamed of themselves! Other people (like me!) deserve happiness after escaping abuse without it being then being projected onto someone who brought them immense happiness!

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I was out for a drive. It was our new routine to try to keep a consistent schedule for my oldest as his dad had requested that I do. He also told me that I shouldn't be going for drives with the kids, but... at my house, this typically works out alright and makes the evening routines similar.

The kids had finally succumbed to the music and were lightly sleeping. I was heading for home when I saw the perfect photo: the sliver of moon had a cloud across it like a sash and I wanted to try to get the trees to be the baseline in the image.

So I safely pulled over and got out of my vehicle, before walking to the back of the vehicle - all alone in the countryside. I heard another vehicle coming, but when the engine sound died down without them passing and I didn't notice any glare from headlights, I figured that maybe they had turned down the other road as I also didn't hear gravel crunch as would be the case if they had pulled over to see if we were alright or any one verbally calling out.

I went back to focusing on trying to get my camera settings to be just right, aware that I was only a foot away from the back end of my SUV. But then I got a feeling... I am not sure why, if I heard a foot step or a rustle, but I started turning back towards the road.

That was when the sheering pain radiated through my cheek. Narrow, cold, smooth, and hard... I went down. I wasn't prepared for that and my vision blurred with tears as everything kept trying to go grey on me.

The navy jeans touching large, black, top-textured shoes with white soles struck me as weird because the voice was a man's voice and most of the men I know of don't wear sneakers in the wintertime (and they roll their eyes at me doing so!). "That's for _____ (my daughter's name)" and then there was another word, but the ringing in my ears got too loud for me to process it.

The voice was a male's voice, but not super young with a boyish tone. It also didn't have the raspy tones of a smoker. Or the faded undertones of a grandparent-aged man. That is all that I know for sure. Oh... and that he sounded angry... which I guess would make sense with the pain he caused...

The shoes walked away as I was still struggling to stand. I knew that I HAD to get up. My babies were in the car! I couldn't stay down even though my body kept trying to not cooperate. Get up!!!

By the time I was slouched against the tailgate, the vehicle had already sped past. The taillights in the distance were useless to me for identifying anything.

Despite the ground not staying still under me, I had to check on my kids. They were both asleep and I sat down for a moment. As the fogginess lifted, I realized that I needed to grab my phone. A short while later, I was heading home. The kids needed to go to bed. I needed pain medication and to ice my cheek.

Why didn't I call for help? Well... how would I tell them where I was? I know my routes, but none of the street names. My vision was okay and I was safe to drive - the ground had stopped trying to move under me. So, I didn't need emergency medical help. Police? Well... it wasn't an active incident, I had no way of saying who did what or proof of anything, and my head hurt. Three very good reasons for me to simply go home and not waste anyone's time.

My Mom was already in crisis... and kids needed their beds... so... I dealt with the situation to the best of my ability. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was right. Who knows? But then when the bruise showed up, I was embarrassed and scared... until someone innocent was accused. Innocents? Need the best that I can offer them and once I was reassured that my actions didn't show that I put my children in danger and were perfectly acceptable, I choose to speak up.

Why would someone hurt me for my daughter?

Well... an investigation opened after my daughter said that someone hurt her and the individual under investigation was talked to at some point February 20-25th. This happened March 1st. I don't know of anyone else who would have a desire to hurt me over my daughter other than said individual or any supporters.

But, then again... who knows. It is all circumstantial, of course!