Advocate’s Services was called and Williams was further humiliated as she was made to undress in front of strangers while a photographer documented her bruised and battered body. Upon waking up in the hospital the next day , Williams realized she had truly hit rock bottom.
She could barely see out of her eyes and couldn't speak. Struggling to see herself in the mirror, her reflection was unrecognizable and in that moment she found the strength to finally say, no more.
It was a long and scary road finding herself. All through the process of reclaiming her life, Williams noticed some gaping deficiencies in the system and in society's perception of survivors. According to Williams victims aren’t given nearly enough counseling or trained with life skills to make it on their own, which leads in many going back to their abusers because it’s the only life they know how to live.
It took almost three years to get her life in working order and while professionally she’s on top, Williams admits admitted that inside, she still feels extremely vulnerable sometimes. She still has moments when she looks in the mirror and sees that broken and battered face staring back at her.
Williams hasn't given up though, she has a plan for healing herself and others in her situations. She dreams of a non profit program for survivors. Paying homage to her grandma's farm, she's planning a program to create a farm to table restaurant, where survivors can come to learn farming, cooking and the restaurant business as well as receive intense counseling.
These days Williams has thrown herself into her work and credits her tumultuous past with her new found determination to succeed. Truth be told, I say she already has.
#Bossy Magazine is looking for Ordinary Women Living Extraordinary Lives for Truth Be Told, If you'd like to tell your story, email me today at [email protected].
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