Published in About Me Stories·PinnedAbout Me — Suzanna QuintanaI dedicate all my words to those from my past who want me to stop talking. — I used to be a good girl, otherwise known as a girl who only had nice things to say about the men around her and if she didn’t have anything nice to say then she better keep that shit to herself. I also was a tomboy, backyard pool diving champion…Life Lessons4 min read
Published in The Virago·Jun 14Maybe He Doesn’t Hit You. But Sometimes You Wish He Would.The physical pain of emotional abuse — You had one of two reactions when you read the title of this piece: 1. Shock: That’s insane why would anyone wish to be hit? 2. Affirmation, validation, recognition: At least then I’d have proof of my pain. If you haven’t experienced emotional abuse, especially at the hands of a…Abusive Relationships6 min read
Published in The Virago·Jun 5My Milkshake Brought all the Narcissists to the YardWhen the ingredients of my milkshake were naivety, no boundaries, and low self-worth — Just get the perfect blend Plus what you have within Then next his eyes’ll squint Then he’s picked up your scent Ah to be young again. Naïve in the ways of the world. Back before I knew real heartbreak and believed everyone was a good person at heart. Just kidding…Narcissistic Abuse5 min read
Published in The Virago·May 29I Was the Only Female Elk Member in a Lodge of Protective But Not-So-Benevolent MenGoing where no woman had gone before — No person shall be accepted as a member of this Order unless he be a white male citizen of the United States of America, of sound mind and body, of good character, not under the age of twenty-one years, and a believer in God. — Article VII, Constitution of the…Sexism6 min read
Published in The Virago·May 17How to Spot a Narcissist in 5 Dates or LessIt’s easier than you might think — Wait, so you’re telling me I can’t spot a narcissist right out of the gate? AGHHH! Why does it have to take so looooong? What if I’ve already fallen for them? What if I get hurt again? What if I never find anyone to trust or love again?! Okay, deep…Narcissistic Abuse8 min read
Published in The Virago·May 10The 4 Truths About Narcissists You Need to KnowEspecially if you’re trying to heal after a relationship with one — Everyone makes mistakes. All people are inherently good. He/she didn’t mean to hurt me. He/she didn’t know what they were doing. In an ideal world, all of the above would be true. In an ideal world, every single human would be good at their core. In an ideal world, there…Narcissistic Abuse4 min read
Published in The Virago·Apr 27When He Was Nice, I Feared Him the MostThe cat and mouse game of a narcissist — Definition of play (a game of) cat and mouse: to engage in behavior that is like the way a cat chases a mouse or plays with a mouse before killing it — used especially to describe behavior in which someone says or does different things to deceive or control other…Narcissistic Abuse5 min read
Published in The Virago·Apr 20What a Narcissist Says vs. What They Actually MeanKnow how to tell if a narcissist is lying? Their mouth is open. — I’m definitely going crazy, I whispered to the stranger in the bathroom mirror. I used to be so levelheaded. I used to think logically. I used to feel like I was on top of things. And yet, as each year passed in my marriage to a man who would only…Narcissistic Abuse5 min read
Published in Catness·Apr 13My Cat Has a Better Social LifeAnd he travels more — My cat is named Mittens. Unless you ask the family who lives behind me. They call him Tuxedo because of his black and white coat. The neighbors call him Socks because of his white paws. He’s also called Penguin. There is a group of little girls down the street who…Cats5 min read
Published in The Virago·Apr 12How Bad Does It Need to Get Before You Leave?Trust me, it’s not worth the wait — I used to wish he would hit me instead, believing that would hurt less than his cruel behavior and words. I often begged him to leave because I didn’t have the strength to do it myself. The way he ignored me for days, the smirk that appeared on his mouth…Abusive Relationships5 min read
