1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of some sort of violence at the hands of their partners, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On an average day, 20,000 calls are made to domestic violence hotlines in this country, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports.

The numbers are mind blowing. What’s worse… We probably don’t even know the half of it. Many victims don’t come forward.

We’re in the middle of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it’s about damn time we push the conversation to the next level.

For the better part of the last year I’ve volunteered in a shelter for women and children who have left abusive homes. I’ve also interviewed survivors and put their stories on television. Rape, broken limbs, terrified children. The list goes on.

I’ve never felt so heartbroken and so angry in my life. 

It’s been an insanely painful yet hysterical last few days.

Blood, screaming, cursing, fast driving, needles, then laughter pretty much sums it up…

But I’ll start from the top.

Our four year old nephew had a baseball practice at a park near our home, so we grabbed the dogs and made our way to the field.

It was a gorgeous afternoon. The smell of the fresh blooms drifted through the air as young families gathered to enjoy the most of the afternoon sun.

My young niece and I played on the slide before the little slugger was up to bat. I kneeled down to her as we watched him take a few swings.

I thought to myself, we should probably move. If he hit a foul ball in the opposite direction we could get hit. As I leaned forward to balance myself up, I heard “look out!”

Boom.

Holy mother $*@#!