On a lazy summer afternoon, my father carefully gathered his belongings, headed for the door, and never returned. My mother and I exulted in our newfound freedom, and we celebrated over ice cream. The previous eight years had been marked with continuous abuse and manipulation, and we struggled with feelings of vulnerability and desperation. Unfortunately, my father’s requisite for malevolence and absolute control was far from over. After his abandonment, a vicious battle ensued within the judicial system. Both of my parents demanded sole custody, and while my mother had pure intentions, my father discernably did not. My mother’s legal fees quickly mounted, and we struggled financially. I quickly realized that I would no longer receive any material