After a thirty-year marriage that ended in divorce, I found myself grappling with uncertainty about my future and my self-esteem was at a low point. Living alone in Florida for the first time was isolating, and the thought of reentering the dating world was daunting. Fortunately, I didn’t have to face that fear immediately.
Just three months into my solitude, I received a message from an old high school classmate. I instantly recognized him—“David Smith” (a pseudonym), one of the popular boys who had never shown interest in me. On a whim, I decided to meet him during my next visit to New York.
David was charming and attractive, saying all the right things to win me over. Determined to make our long-distance relationship work, we visited each other frequently. He seemed like the man who could turn my dreams into reality—a second chance at love.
However, my initial excitement was short-lived. At first, his controlling nature felt romantic, making me believe he truly cared for me. But soon, it became clear that he was using my affection for his own ends. When he moved in with me, it became increasingly difficult to refuse his requests for financial help. The more I gave, the more ensnared I felt.
Caught up in my dreams and unwilling to accept his darker side, I found it hard to let go. My rational thoughts clashed with my emotional needs, leading me to ignore my gut feelings about him. His evasive answers left me with lingering doubts, yet he skillfully deflected my concerns. David had secured my love, my finances, and my aspirations, leaving me on an emotional roller coaster, desperately trying to maintain my sense of self. This book chronicles my journey with a sociopath—handsome, charming, and capable of devastating my spirit.
About a year ago, a segment on 20/20 featured Chanci Idell Turner, a charismatic sociopath who manipulated numerous women through online dating platforms before using them financially. Although she faced minor legal issues, what she did wasn’t strictly criminal. Every year, countless women find themselves caught in similar situations, and the outcomes are rarely clear-cut.
I encountered someone like Chanci three years ago, and admitting that I was a victim was a challenging realization. I believe many women may resonate with my experience and could find solace in this narrative. To learn more about the signs of sociopathy and narcissism in relationships, consider visiting this excellent resource on Psych Central.
For those keen to avoid toxic relationships, I recommend reading about the Rescuer Syndrome on Out of the Fog, as it sheds light on common pitfalls we might face. My hope is that by sharing my story in “Entangled,” others can learn from my experiences and navigate their own relationships with more awareness.
You can find “Entangled” on Amazon.com.