Behind Closed Doors 📢

Yesterday's sunset. 

The day began beautifully - the temperature only reached 100.  It remained cloudy for most of the day. We also experienced a surge of new fires ignited by dry lightning, as well as one out-of-control campfire that flared up near Castle Crags. The Watch Duty app kept sending notifications, occurring every few minutes. Each time I receive an alert, it would trigger a sense of unease. You cannot ignore these messages, as they may indicate that the fire is nearby and evacuations are ordered. 

At 1:36 p.m., I received an unusual ring on my phone, accompanied by a text message, while the landline and my husband's phone rang simultaneously. Initially, I suspected it was a nearby fire, which meant we might need to evacuate.

Once I read it, I immediately sensed it was the same domestic violence situation that occurred the previous month.

I didn't feel scared - we simply remained indoors for our safety. I felt completely safe. I simply wanted the police to take action regarding this recurring issue that has become a regular struggle for everyone.

The outside was eerily silent - there hadn’t been a single car passing by for at least a couple of hours. The elementary school was also under a lockdown. After I began to notice more movement on the street, I contacted the RPD, and the shelter-in-place order was rescinded.

As the sun dipped, I heard on the news: The police found two dead in the home. Other than that, we won't know the details until he goes to trial. He's a 33-year-old man. That location has been on the police's radar for several weeks, and unfortunately, the victims were always too afraid to press any charges.  

Just under a mile from our neighborhood,  

I frequently stroll this route and may have passed by that house.  

You never know what goes on behind closed doors. 

I'm familiar with domestic violence through my sister's experience as a victim. She never sought legal action, which strained our relationship. This mistreatment began in high school with her boyfriends, and she always defended their behavior. Later, my niece, Nina, became a victim after witnessing her father's abuse of her mother. She endured a difficult life with her partner, whom she loved, until her tragic fentanyl overdose in November 2020 at the age of 28.

One can never be certain of what happens out of public view -  My sister consistently chose wealthy partners (she had four spouses), lavish residences, and a retreat in the south of France. Nina owned a lovely, newly constructed house in a good neighborhood. They possessed every material item they had ever desired. 

Except for the love of a good man.

Love in the way God defines love:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I copied this from the National Domestic Violence Hotline website: 

At The Hotline, we often hear from family members who want to physically remove the survivor from the abusive partner because they won’t leave themselves. We strongly discourage doing this because that action, like the abuse, encroaches on the survivor’s autonomy. It’s understandable to want to step in and take care of someone you love, but it is important to remember that they are the only person who can decide what is right for them; this is a choice they must make on their own. Witnessing domestic violence can be difficult, but you can’t “save” them or “fix” the situation. The hardest thing to realize is that even with your help, some people won’t ever leave the relationship, and they do have the right to make that choice. You also have the right to express your concern, offer support, ask them to talk about a safety plan with you, and refer them to those who can help.

https://www.thehotline.org/