Wow. What a powerful piece.

I think love can exist with abuse, but that doesn't mean that it's healthy love in any way. Just because they also loved you, doesn't erase the fact they hurt you worse than anyone else, and that they chose to do so. I think sometimes the idea that "love can't exist with abuse" keeps victims with their abusers longer. Because they can't accept that the love they experienced wasn't real. But perhaps it was real. That doesn't mean that the abuse wasn't real too. And the abuse can break you so badly that trust cannot come back.

I have fortunately never been raped or physically abused. But I have been emotionally abused by my mother. And part of what made it so hard was this very question "can love exist where there is abuse"? I couldn't believe that my mother never loved me. I believe she did. And does, in her strange way. But that doesn't negate the harm she caused, or make her a healthy person to spend time with.

I think this article will help a lot of people. I'm glad you're slowly healing.