We all have moments when life feels overwhelmingly hard—like we’re stuck in a storm with no umbrella. For most people, those moments pass with time. But for Kayla Holmes, one devastating day became a permanent part of her life—etched into her skin and memory. Every time she looks in the mirror, she’s reminded of the trauma that changed her world forever.

Just a year before her life was turned upside down, Kayla was navigating a toxic and abusive relationship. At only 17 years old, she found herself emotionally and physically controlled by an older boyfriend. Raised by a single mother, Kayla never truly understood what a healthy, loving relationship looked like. She thought love meant enduring pain, hoping the person would change. She believed in his apologies, his promises. And like many young girls in their first serious relationship, she wanted to believe the fairytale could still come true. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

The abuse slowly escalated. Her self-worth crumbled under the weight of manipulation. “I used to be my attacker’s property,” Kayla said. “He manipulated me to the point where I almost lost everything and everyone in my life.” Despite everything, she stayed—clinging to the brief moments when he was kind. But her decision to believe in him would cost her far more than she could have ever imagined.

October 17, 2017, is a day Kayla will never forget. Her ex-boyfriend, Seth Aaron Fleury, then 21 years old, refused to accept that their relationship was over. What happened next was an act of horrific violence—an attack that would haunt her for the rest of her life. In a post shared on Love What Matters, Kayla recalled that moment in vivid detail. She wrote about sitting in a pool of her own blood, part of her lip lying on her leg, her entire mouth burning in pain. She remembered thinking those might be her last moments—so full of fear and hopelessness that she wished she could just stop existing.

That afternoon, Seth had lured her into meeting by claiming he wanted to apologize. She went to hear him out, thinking he might have genuinely regretted what he’d done. But once she made it clear there was no future between them, his mask dropped. He tried to force a kiss. When she pulled away, he did something unimaginable—he bit off her lower lip in a violent outburst. After mutilating her, he yanked her from the car and slammed the door in her face before fleeing. “He continued to call me once I made it into the ambulance,” she shared, “which felt like a lifetime after having something many women hold precious completely mutilated.”

Kayla has often been asked why she stayed in the relationship. Her answer is heartbreaking in its simplicity—it wasn’t always terrible. He was her first love, and when he was sweet, it felt magical. That’s what she held onto. But the truth was far from magical, and it left her permanently scarred.

Doctors tried desperately to reattach her lip, but the damage was beyond repair. The torn flesh couldn’t be saved. Surgeons had to cut into her cheeks to close the wound. She recalls waking up in the hospital and trying to joke with a nurse about how she wouldn’t need a Halloween costume because her face was scary enough. The nurse gave a small laugh, then brought her a mask to cover her face. That’s when reality hit—this was her new life. The pain, the scar, the trauma—it wasn’t a dream. It was now a permanent part of her.

Today, a long scar stretches across Kayla’s face, a lasting symbol of what she endured. For a long time, she blamed herself. But with time, therapy, and support, she realized something important—it was never her fault. That day, when she said “no” and didn’t take him back, was actually the day she reclaimed her power. It was the moment she stopped living for him and started living for herself.

Exactly one year after the assault, on October 18, 2018, Kayla found some closure. Seth was sentenced to 12 years in prison for aggravated assault. It didn’t erase what happened, but it was a step toward justice.

Today, Kayla refuses to be defined by what was done to her. She calls herself a survivor, not a victim. And though the scar remains, she wears it with pride. Not because it symbolizes pain, but because it reflects her strength. “I will continue to wear my scars as wings,” she said. “I will continue to stay kind and stay strong. And I will rise above this.”

Her story is a powerful reminder that abuse doesn’t always come with warnings or bruises that outsiders can see. It often starts subtly—with control, with manipulation, with isolation. Too many people—both women and men—stay in these dangerous situations, hoping the person they love will change. But as Kayla’s story so painfully illustrates, love should never hurt. And sometimes, the greatest act of strength is walking away.

If you or someone you know is facing violence or living in fear, take the first step. Seek help. You are not alone. You deserve to live without fear, without pain, and without shame. Let Kayla’s courage be a light for others in darkness.

Share her story. Someone might need it more than you know.