This is Bodies, a show about people solving the mysteries of their bodies.

I'm Allison Barringer. A heads up, this episode is about intimate partner violence and

includes some explicit descriptions of violence. We've also removed some

identifying details. I've come across a lot of stories about domestic violence.

I've heard about people who stayed with a partner who harmed them. of

stories about domestic violence. I've heard about people who stayed with a partner who harmed them,

even after months or years of physical abuse. And I always understood these stories one way.

Like I thought the reason why people didn't leave was psychological,

that they're under the emotional control of their abusive partners or were

afraid their abuser would hurt them worse or kill them if they tried to leave. I also understood

the logistical reasons like lack of resources or having children involved and all of

those reasons are true but the story in this episode has given me a whole new understanding of another

reason why many people struggle to leave their abusive partners.

This is Stacy's story. At 32, Stacy found herself single and without children. Her first marriage

had ended after years of trying for a child.

She was lonely.

She worked at a financial company where her job was to put together proposals and budgets for

million dollar contracts.

She loved her work. And she also worked a second job as a manager at a

restaurant. And one day there were two kids running around unsupervised. When she

found their father, he hardly said a word to her.

But after that, he started coming around, trying to talk to her.

...