I met Jake in the springtime . . .So begins Cristina's story, a story of love and marriage, but also abuse and violence. Cristina met Jake when she was on the rebound, not looking for anything serious. And he seemed like the perfect guy: he was attractive and confident, he had a solid job, and he didn't hide the fact that he was interested in her. Before she knew it, they were married, talking about kids, settling down.The first time he hit her, she was shocked. She'd been getting ready for work, talking about the day ahead . . . He sent flowers, apologized, promised it would never happen again. But it did. It happened again. And again.This is Cristina's story. The story of how she survived a violent and abusive marriage, how she justified and forgave, how she concealed bruises and broken furniture, how she tried over and over again to make it work. It's a story about violence, and darkness, and shame. But it's also a story about love-how a mother's love for her children can make her strong enough to overcome even the most terrifying odds. If I Am Brave Enough is about finding the courage to fight for your own happy ending.