I was 25 when I thought I’d finally found someone decent. His name was Elias. He was 27, confident without being loud, handsome in that clean, pressed way, and always quoting Scripture like it came naturally. He led our Bible study group with such conviction that people leaned in when he spoke. He seemed sure of everything — faith, morality, purpose — all the things I’d been stumbling through alone.
After years of heartbreak and false starts, Elias felt like safety. He called himself a man of God. He talked about patience, humility, and devotion. And I wanted to believe him.
The first cracks appeared quietly. Elias had opinions about everything — especially women. He’d say things like, “A woman shouldn’t dress to be noticed; she should dress to be respected.” At the time, I mistook it for wisdom. Looking back, it was control wrapped in scripture.
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