I was only 14 when I was in an abusive relationship. I was on and off with this guy, but we were never officially dating. I've always been the type of person to help other out, even when I'm the one in need of saving. Long story short, this guy I was interested in had such a terrible past, even though I don't know anymore if he was even honest about that, and I thought I could help him.  I thought that by being a friend or even a love interest, I could get him help. There were so many signs that the relationship was toxic, but I thought he was just confiding in someone.  He always indirectly threatened to kill himself if I didn't say "I love you" or things like that.  It took me so long to get out of this place because I truly believed that he just needed help and his mother wasn't giving it to him at the time (he was about 16 years old at the time).  He made me feel wanted in a way.  All of that changed when my parents stepped in and helped me to get away from him, but he still continued to make my life a living hell.  That day, I rode by his house, he lived in my neighborhood by the way, and I saw an ambulence and a sheriff's car.  I was so scared that I had indirectly ended his life, but my parents were scared that he was going to come after me.  His mother, who had in the past constantly thanked me for helping out her son, was also manipulating me.  My parents found out that he told his mom, "I love you mom, but I'm running away and killing myself." After what felt like hours of my parents helping the police look for him, they found him and sent him in for 24 hour supervision... That was it.  Even though that they could look at his arm and notice that this wasn't a new thing, it had been happening for years.  Once I finally was able to admit to myself, with the help of my parents and a therapist, that I was being manipulated, I could move on. Or so I thought.. He started going to my school and telling everyone personal things that I had shared with him and most people did not know about me.  His new gf, at the time, threatened to fight me for confronting him about spreading my secrets, but she ended up being all talk and no bite.  I didn't even see a need to go on with her because she was obviously insecure and too afraid to do anything in general because she sent it over Facebook.  I ended up being free again, but it still haunts me 4 years later. I feel ashamed for letting myself be manipulated, I'm upset that I was so depressed that I let myself believe that he was the only one that understood me, but I was mostly upset that my mom had to watch me go through that.  Years later she told me that she was married before my dad, and he physically, mentally, and emotionally abused her.  But because of her, I am stronger, and because of her, I've learned how to recognize red flags in my relationships and my friends' relationships.  I know it may sound like I'm not a true survivor of abuse, even I don't see it as that sometimes, but I know that I am a survivor and my story needs to be told.