Chicago native Dawn Randi Knight Edwards says her encounter with domestic violence is not like most, and it only took one time for her to realize the severity of how this tragic story could end.
“It made me realize the magnitude of what people go through,” she admits.
Randi says she never imagined the events that took place one night with a man she just started dating would alter her life.
“I met this man who was so wonderful to me,” she recollects. “When I was sick at work, he brought me soup and flowers.
The high school counselor recalls going to the movies with the man she had dated for two months, his brother and his date one evening. On the way, the car stopped and Randi said her date became engaged in a verbal altercation with another motorist.
“When I got out of the car to break it up, he slapped me and yelled at me to get back in the car,” Randi says. “Then he punched me, picked me up by my back, slammed me to the ground and my face hit the concrete.”
She remembers her date desired to leave her where he attacked her, but decided to pick up her up and throw her into the car, only to drop her off on the side of the road miles away in a forest preserve.
“The other young lady didn’t do anything to help me,” Randi says. “After walking for about 20 or 30 minutes, I found a house with a light on, rang the doorbell, told the people what happened and asked if I could use their phone to call my best friend.”
The battered victim knew she was in a nightmare, but was hit with another blow when she noticed a window at her apartment was broken when she arrived home.
“I never called the police because I was scared,” she confesses. “This only happened once, but I understood the fear and understand why people can’t just leave. It’s with me forever and I don’t know if that fear ever goes away.”
Six months later, Randi says she saw her assailant from a far and darted away from his view. It wasn’t until she underwent counseling that she had the courage to share what happened to others, outside of her best friend.
Although the events of that night occurred 15 years ago, Randi says the scabs from those physical and emotional scars feel fresh every time she recounts the story, especially as the physical wounds reminded her of what she endured.
Through counseling and time, the former victim took her life back after years of doubting herself and shares her story as a testimony to others. She counsels high school students and works as a local on-air personality. Even though she’s not pursuing her former dreams of an aspiring fashion designer, Randi says she feels very blessed and continues to sketch her plans for her life, with positive designs for her future and for others.
“You’re not alone and there’s help when you’re ready,” she advises. “Trust your intuition and if you feel something is not right, it probably isn’t.”
Photo Credit: Rodney Wright
