In 2013 a young girl named Wynter moved to Hornbeak, TN.Through out 8th grade she made three best friends, Carson, Destiny, and Chelse. They spent everyday together. They always stayed at each other's house. A year went by and they were about to start High School. After the first day Wynter rode the bus to destiny's house. Where she had two guys over one was her boyfriend at the time, Jordan, and his friend Scotty. This is the day it all began for Wynter the day that would change her forever. Wynter and Scotty sat on the couch in pure silence all night until Jordan said it was time to go. As Scotty walked away Wynter wanted to yell out, don't leave, come back! Even though they didn't talk all night she felt connected to him. Soon after destiny gave Jordan Wynter's number which he promptly gave it to Scotty from then on they texted all day and all night. They began dating September 28th 2013. It was like a fairy-tale at first he would do anything to see her. For Wynter's birthday Scotty surprised her, when she got on the bus for school he was in the first seat holding two big teddy bears ,flowers ,and chocolates! She was astounded no one has ever done something like this before! The next year together was marvelous. Scotty was Wynter's first love she fell head over heels for him. On April 1st 2014 they had sex it was Wynter's first time she thought he was the one. Later she would find out 5 minutes before they had sex he was doing lines of cocaine in the bathroom. She loved him So much she couldn't notice how things were changing. At first it was just small remarks nothing too alarming but by the end of that year things would become physical. It started with Scotty punching her arms playfully she thought but quickly grew into slamming her into walls if she didn't obey. By now the year was 2015 Wynter tried to leave so many times. Wynter's dad moved to Florida and desperately wanted her to move with him but she was trapped she couldn't pull herself away. Scotty had began doing meth earlier that year.One day while Wynters mom was at work Scotty came barging into the house yelling “there are people after me!” Wynter tried to calm him down but that only made him angrier. He took her keys and phone telling her she could never leave him. No one would love her like he does. She tried to run outside for help while Scotty was taking a shower but he heard her and came running out, slamming her into the door she tried to fight back but that only made him stronger. All she could do was keep yelling “i'm sorry please let me go i won't run away anymore”! Finally he released her arms and threw her back into her room. There was no where she could go. He was always there trying to find her. Wynter called the cops almost every time things got physical he would go to jail that night then Scotty’s mom which was friends with the judge got him released the next morning. She felt like she had no other options she had to stay with him. She found comfort with her friends Chelse ,Destiny, and Carson but eventually they got tired of Wynter being in an abusive relationship. Seeing her with bruises all over and still holding his hand the next day. If she wasn't going to help herself they couldn't help her either. Wynter became very depressed all she wanted to do was sleep. One day while she was in her mother's bathroom she came across some pills labeled hydrocodone she knew what they were because of Scotty's drug problems. Wynter started by taking 2 at night to help her sleep better, soon it became taking 7 right after school. All she wanted was to sleep all night and all day. After a month she ran out of pills and they were too expensive to buy so she started drinking vodka it was cheap and easy to disguise as water.Now it was senior year. Wynter still drank as much as she could, and Scotty still hit her everyday. One time in particular haunts Wynter. Scotty was sleeping on his couch and Wynter came by to see him she poked him to wake him up, he went off punching and kicking her screaming “what the fuck is your problem bitch!” this would be the worst fight they ever had. Wynter ran outside trying to get in her car. Scotty running after her grabbed her and threw her keys down Wynter slipped away screaming as loud as she could “PLEASE HELP, HELP ME!”. no one answered scotty grabbed her by her hair and dragged her back up the stairs into the house telling her “no one is going to help you”. He drug her into the kitchen and started pummeling on her face. She never stopped yelling “PLEASE HELP ME ANYONE”. Scotty stopped for a second, yelling towards the back ” is anyone going to help her Big Scotty?” [ that was his step dads name] Wynter quickly realized Big Scotty was back there the whole time listening to this! Big Scotty was quiet, Wynter screamed out” you’re a fucking coward big Scotty”! After a few more minutes Wynter finally could get up she ran outside as fast as she could, she grabbed her keys laying on the ground and drove away, Scotty was close behind. Normally it would take her 10 minute to get from Scotty's house to hers but this time it only took 5 minutes. Both of them going 100 mph on dark curvy roads she knew if he caught up to her she was dead. She slid into her mother’s driveway screaming for her mom to come outside and help, but she wasn't coming! Scotty slid into the driveway seconds after, yelling and throwing huge rocks at Wynter and her car. Wynter looked up, finally! Her mom came outside! Scotty briskly drove away in his truck. Wynter's mom quickly called 911 soon the cops and ambulance arrived they said Wynter might have a concussion from how badly her face had been beaten in, they wanted me to go to the hospital but Wynter just wanted to forget about all of this. She refused and eventually they left. Scotty went to jail that night. 4 days later he was released. Wynter had been staying at Chelse’s house those 4 days she didn't want to go back to Scotty. When he got out Wynter knew the first thing he'd do was come find her Chelse’s family wanted to protect Wynter. Scotty came to Chelse’s house asking for Wynter. Chelse’s family told him “she doesn't want to see you so you better leave and don't come back! “A few weeks went by and Scotty quit following Wynter around, she thought she was safe. One day after school Wynter went back to her moms house where she found open food containers on the table, it was Scotty. He came into the house while she was at school! Scotty began following Wynter to school to give her candy bars and tell her to have a good day most days when school was let out Scotty would be standing next to Wynter's car waiting for her. Eventually Wynter stopped trying and went back to him. He was good for a while but of course went back to his normal self hitting her and telling her was complete shit. By now Wynter graduated High School she was sleeping on the floor with Scotty at his friends house. Only Wynter had a car so Scotty took it all the time driving around for hours looking for drugs. Wynter had a job at a candle factory it was hard work she had to be at work every morning 5 am but every night Scotty would run all her gas out leaving her to count change for gas money. This went on for 2 weeks each day Wynter grew more tired of the same terrible life. July 3rd 2016 was a day Wynter would never forget, she woke up like every other day. Wynter, Scotty, and two more friends went to the park, they spent the day laughing and taking pictures, and then they went swimming. After swimming Scotty took Wynter's car looking for drugs she didn't want to go but Scotty said “too bad you have to”. They drove around for hours, during this time Wynter was silent, she was only thinking about her dad and how he wanted her in Florida she kept thinking about what kind of life she could have there. She knew if she stayed with Scotty any longer she would end up pregnant and stuck forever or maybe even dead. After about 3 hours of driving around they went back to the apartment where they were staying. Scotty went to take a shower and Wynter told him she was going to her mom's house Scotty looked worried and said are you coming back? Wynter said yes i'll be back later on tonight. She calmly walked to her car and drove to her moms house. As she walked inside she was crying she swung open the door and abruptly exclaimed “i am moving right now mom, i love you, but i have to leave or I will die here” her mother understood and packed her lunch for the drive. As Wynter quickly packed a few things her mother walked up to her crying, Wynter said “i am so sorry but you can't cry right now i have to be strong long enough to get into my car and drive away, you can't cry mom. Wynter's mom shook her head and continued making snacks. Not even an hour since Wynter walked through her mother's door she was packed and ready for a better life. She hugged her mother goodbye and got in the car. As soon as she left the driveway she called her dad telling him “i'm coming to Florida right now i'll be there around 4 am, I love you”. It was an 8 hour drive from Hornbeak TN to Chipley FL and Wynter left at 7 pm, July 3rd. Four hours into the drive Scotty called her, someone told him what she was doing he begged her to come back. Wynter knew she couldn't, she had to keep going. She was crying so hard she couldn't see the road, she pulled over a few times thinking should i go back….. No i can't i have to better myself! After the longest 8 hours of Wynter's life she arrived in Chipley fl at 4 am. After a few hours of sleep she went with her dad and stepmother to there friends where they all ate food, played games, and laughed. That night the fireworks started and Wynter thought to herself this is it, this is the day my life begins. Now each year on the 4th of July she is reminded of the hardship she overcame. Every year she looks at the fireworks with tears in her eyes reminding herself she is a strong, smart woman, whom she is so proud of.