More Than a Phone

The day I finally left him was the first day of school for my children—one in kindergarten and the other in third grade. The timing might not have been convenient, but it became my moment of escape. He was at work when I made the decision, and he advised me not to be there when he got home.
I left, seeking refuge at a coworker's house, but her unease and concerns about me being tracked forced me to leave once more, leaving me without a clear destination.
As the divorce proceedings began, the house became a battleground. I owned it, so leaving could have been interpreted as abandonment, while he had the right to stay as it was marital property. This left me trapped in a place of constant fear. One day, he removed all the lightbulbs, plunging the house into darkness, and I feared he might be lurking somewhere inside.
The mind games extended to my phone. Innocent conversations with friends via text would later resurface in eerie ways. For instance, after mentioning my desire to exercise more for my well-being, I arrived home to find my bike strategically placed in the driveway. Likewise, a seemingly harmless inquiry from a friend about corporate jargon would be casually dropped into conversation by my husband later that evening. These incidents didn't appear overtly threatening but left me perpetually doubting my reality and sanity. My world felt like it was unraveling, and I desperately wanted to maintain the facade of composure.
"More than a Phone" provides just that...so much more than a phone—many women face tracking and physical danger, but others, like me, grapple with emotionally abusive relationships where the phone is just another tool for manipulation, fostering a constant atmosphere of fear. Every woman's story is unique, but the resources provided by More Than a Phone offer safety, a fresh start, and the confidence to regain control over our lives, which often feels just beyond our reach.