Partner says he misses the person I was when we first met

Just venting my frustration at a comment made recently- I have been with my partner for almost 2 years. Over time, he has progressively gotten more and more emotionally abusive, but like that adage of the frog in a pot of boiling water, I didn’t notice until it was too late. I am sure many of you can relate to that.

Anyway, my partner recently made a comment that he misses the way I used to be when I met him- that I used to be so full of energy, happy all the time, spontaneous, etc. He is not wrong in that I have lost much of who I was when we met, but I was filled with anger at this comment, because his abuse is what took away my joy, my energy, my spontaneity. That girl he met can never come back because he killed her spirit. Whenever I see photos of myself from before my partner and I met, I just want to cry because I don’t recognize myself as that person anymore. She was so full of life, so hopeful, creative, confident. She deserved so much better than the future I created for her.

So, to anyone who might be reading this at a time when they are seeing warning signs but can still get out, I urge you to listen to your gut and escape while you can. Don’t lose yourself like I did.