“Women aren’t born to obey blows, ma’am. And the system you built to control people is going to turn on you eventually.”

I carried my suitcase down the concrete stairs into the cool Columbus morning. Jimmy, my colleague, was already waiting in his car to take me to the sports center.

On the drive he told me to document everything, get a full medical evaluation at a clinic, and never meet Marvin alone.

That afternoon, teaching a full class of teenage girls, I understood with total clarity that my marriage was over.

I also understood that Camryn would never accept losing control of her son without trying to destroy me publicly.

Five days later, she showed up at my workplace with two large women from her neighborhood, shouting my name in front of dozens of my students.