Aftermath: Finding the Light in the Aftermath of Domestic Violence

Within the shadows, she found light to heal her family. Most mornings look the same for everyone: wake up, follow a routine, begin the day. But sometimes we wake up to a different kind of day—a turning point that changes everything we thought we knew and forces us to face reality. One day, Eliza woke up to a call that permanently changed her reality and her life's trajectory. In college, Eliza fell in love with Jake. Even though she worried about his dark side, she said her vows and jumped in. For eight years, she and Jake battled his demons together. They started a family, with Eliza trying to balance her devotion to her vows and children with the constant fear of what would happen next in a marriage that started with youthful optimism and evolved into an escape plan. Eliza hoped divorce, distance, and a new life would keep her and her children safe, but Jake's darkness continued to threaten their safety. Just how far would he go to hurt her and those she loved? Join Eliza on her journey as a wife and mother toward a pivotal moment she never saw coming—an ending and a beginning—a place where she would muster the courage to keep going and embrace the heartache and hope in the aftermath. Eliza LeBeau is a licensed school counselor with a master's in psychology and a bachelor's in sociology with a minor in women's studies. She has raised nine children and has worked in social services and education for over twenty years.