Who are you?!?!

[ladysilverice]

Most domestic abuse cases don't start with the beating part. It starts mentally where the abusee breaks down the abused's mental barriers. That person keeps forgiving each thing that's done to them even as they get worse and worse saying that the person still loves them. They make excuses for them saying they've just had a bad day or something. As time goes on, the accounts of abuse get gradually worse and worse, but the abused keeps forgiving them because they love them. Eventually, the abused is too afraid to tell someone either because they're afraid of more abuse, or they don't want to get the abuser in trouble.

Edit: Notice I didn't use gender, that was purposeful. I've known men to have been the abused as well as the abusee.