Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Susan Smith (not her real name) works as a cook in a local nursing home. She lives with her two daughters, but also has a son who stays mostly with his father. Susan lives in a small apartment in an undisclosed location because she is a victim of domestic violence. She lives an incredibly isolated life; her children live in isolation as well. They are not allowed to have friends over, and this seclusion makes having friends even harder. Susan managed to get out of the violent situation, leaving with only the clothes on her back.
The repercussions affect her every day. She struggles with depression and worries about her family’s safety. A battered women’s shelter has helped Susan very much, but she still finds it hard to be the sole provider for her family. Though it is tough, she has met this challenge head on. Working constantly, she does the best she can. She is hopeful, but realistic, about the future. Her children will go to school; she is determined to see to that. Despite all her work, she cannot pay her bills without help. The current supplements to her support will not be there forever. She hopes that in the future she will not have to work so hard and will have a home to call her own. Some would say these are simple goals, but they are the goals of a true survivor. Bravely, Susan says, “I have a lot ahead. But I’ve got my kids, so I know what I have to do. And sometimes you want to do things for your children, things you don’t have, but you do what you gotta do.”
