With Hindsight Comes Clarity

Distance usually provides a better picture

Allowing time to process things

Going into a big move (especially one that involved a child and a new country), the unknown was a HUGE factor

The one thing that didn’t even cross our minds was unearthing a psychopathic narcissist

But that’s what happened

And it was something that took time to figure out, as a lot of odd things were happening at the new place that shouldn’t have been happening

And it all related the HVAC system

But since I didn’t have access to the thermostat, the only thing I was going off of was what the system itself was doing

And since the weather was getting cooler since we were heading into fall, our apartment was getting cold. Nothing changed as winter started. The only time any heat came on was when the landlord was home, since she lived on the property at the time.

As the troublesome tenant began figuring out I might he onto him, he began to slowly terrorize us. And he used the HVAC system to do it.

Freeze us in the winter with no heat

Freeze us in the summer with the AC running continuously

And he knew no one would believe me

Because even when I asked him to turn it off to give the AC a break, he said no because ‘it was too hot’ upstairs

Even though all he had to do was close the curtains and turn on some fans

No amount of negotiations or requests for compromise was considered on his end

And as I sit here typing this, I am sitting in a room with a window open and the AC off because it’s cool enough outside where the AC isn’t warranted

But if we still in that apartment with the narcissist…

Even though it’s cool enough for the AC to NOT be running…

The AC would still be running continuously

Because it’s all about control and power

Trying to force me to submit

Which wasn’t going to happen

No matter how hard he tried

And yes, I am still 100% positive he was being psychologically abusive

An abuser doesn’t need to be violent to cause harm

Because even though you couldn’t see what he was doing

I did

Because even though you haven’t seen all of the aftermath of his efforts

We have

And even though we’re a year out from living under his reign

The difference between then and now is HUGE

It put some perspective on the situation

For they say hindsight is 20/20

And with each passing day, it only emphasizes I was right

And with each passing day, we’re one step closer to healing