The Third Return

"...nothing short of beautiful."— Nicole Munoz, Mental Health Advocate

It is not the usual story told by a victim or survivor, but rather by a daughter who lived to witness the domestic abuse of her mother for seventeen years. This story provides an intimate perspective of the strength it took to recover from the wounds of loss and trauma while lending readers a look at household violence through the eyes of a child.

After Monica's mother remarried and a new baby brother was born, her stepfather, Ian, transformed their Chicago home into a smothering confinement that seeded fear, tension, and horrific abuse. Although her childhood was consumed with dysfunction and confusion, as she grew older, the tormenting cycle of violence became clear to her, and she rebelled against the daily manipulation of her sadistic stepfather.

With continual insistence, she urged her mother to stay away from Ian long enough to break the cycle of leaving and returning. But in spite of her pleas, her mother returned to Ian a third time, and her decision resulted in a feared and tragic outcome that shattered their family as well as their hearts. Yet in spite of the devastation caused by her stepfather, Monica and her siblings bravely struggled to overcome the unexpected pain and grief, and ultimately found lasting peace in their lives.

It is because of her experiences and her awakened understanding of life that the author has come to believe that every life is beautiful. It is with this perspective that she shares her story and encourages her readers with this final message: You are a Beautiful Life.

"A powerful story shared from a lesser-told perspective—an absolute must-read." — Ciara Suarez, LMHC