Untitled chapter 1
What I Think About Domestic Violence
“What shatters me most is when men finally show their true intentions and become the arrogant macho men they really are.
They start as sweet talkers, with gentle smiles and whispered promises of forever.
But one day, the mask slips.
Suddenly, the man who once held you tenderly has eyes full of contempt. His words become weapons. His hands follow.
I believe domestic violence is the silent war waged behind closed doors. It crushes souls, silences dreams, and leaves scars no one can see.
Love should never come with bruises, threats, or fear.
And yet too many women cling to the hope that the man they fell in love with will return.
But arrogance, control, and cruelty often lurk beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
I write because I want women to know: you deserve better. You deserve safety, respect, and peace.
And the first step toward freedom is recognizing that love should never hurt.”
— Gina María Paredes Cornejo
Ecuadorian Writer
Dedication
To God, my Heavenly Father—thank You for guiding every step of my journey and being present in each of my decisions.
To my grandfather, Jorge David, who gifted me the love of words and the dream of becoming a writer.
To my sister Giannina and my friend Lorena Contreras, whose encouragement has been the wind beneath my wings.
To my boyfriend and future husband, my true soulmate, who stands beside me in every battle, inspires every page I write, and fills my world with love, hope, and light. You are my muse, my universe.
To my family, friends, my psychology, and my readers—thank you for your unwavering support and belief in me.
To Manuel Cueva and Antonio Martin, whose words reminded me never to abandon my dream of writing.
To Lorena Gallo, whose courage and resilience lit the flame that sparked this book.
To Thelma Fardin, whose bravery in speaking her truth became an anthem for countless women.
To Miss Margarita de Fioravanti, the entire Fioravanti family, Miss Margarita Guillén, Ángel Bolívar Hernández Pólit, and Mariela Vanessa Zambrano Saltos, who have inspired me to strive for excellence and grow both personally and professionally.
And above all—to all women who have suffered abuse: This book is for you. May it remind you that life can begin again, that beyond violence lies hope, and that you deserve a future free from fear. May these pages be your voice, your shield, and your light in the darkness.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Lutho Mayiseli, Miriam Toews, Elara, Olivia James, and all the incredible writers whose unwavering support has carried me through this journey. Your encouragement, kindness, and belief in my voice have been a beacon of light in moments of doubt. Thank you for standing beside me with open hearts and endless generosity — this story would not exist without you.
Finally, to Volta Publishing, Grupo Dux, and Elara—thank you for making my dream a reality and helping me turn my words into a beacon of hope for those who need it most.
What is the book about?
They are me is more than a book—it’s a cry from the soul, echoing the silent screams of countless women who endure gender-based violence in the shadows. 💔
It’s a powerful reflection on pain, resilience, and the fierce courage it takes to say enough. Through raw, moving stories and real-life testimonies, Gina María Paredes Cornejo sheds light on the brutal realities of femicide, emotional abuse, and the relentless fight to end violence against women.
Yet amid the darkness, there is hope. 💪✨
She is me urges us not only to recognize the signs of abuse but to break free from the chains of silence and shame. It’s a call to raise our voices, to heal, and to reclaim our lives with dignity and strength.
With a special focus on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, this book empowers us to stand together and declare—once and for all—Never Again. 🗣️💥
Let this book be your guide, your companion, and your spark for change.
Synopsis
Marina Cruz believed in fairy tales—until the man she loved tried to kill her on the day they were to wed.
Raised in a conservative community, Marina was taught that obedience was holy and silence was survival. Her fiancé, Daniel Navarro—a charismatic man cloaked in religious devotion—seemed like the perfect partner. But behind closed doors, devotion became domination. Faith became fear. And love became violence.
On the day of their wedding, Marina fled the altar in a blood-soaked dress, leaving behind the church—and the life she’d been told to want.
Haunted by scars both visible and hidden, Marina battles guilt, shame, and the judgment of a society eager to blame the victim. But when a young woman named Camila Rodríguez, once Daniel’s lover, is found dead and dismissed as another “troubled woman,” Marina refuses to stay silent.
Determined to expose Daniel’s crimes and to honor the women whose voices were stolen, Marina steps into a fight she never imagined: facing her abuser in court, confronting a system that protects men like him, and discovering her own power as an activist, writer, and survivor.
Her story ignites a movement. Women begin to speak out. Secrets unravel. And Marina finds not just justice—but the freedom to claim her own body, her own voice, and her own future.
My Body Doesn’t Want Your Blessing is a fiercely gripping novel of resilience, sisterhood, and the transformative power of telling the truth. It’s a call to every woman who has ever been silenced, reminding her that her body belongs to her—and her voice can change the world.
Introduction
The dress was supposed to be white. But when I ran from the altar, it was stained with more than blood. It was stained with years of fear, silence, and broken promises.
They said love was supposed to hurt sometimes. That I had to be obedient, to forgive, to keep quiet. But my body doesn’t want their blessing.
My body wants freedom. Freedom from the man who called himself my savior but tried to be my executioner. Freedom from the whispers that told me I was to blame.
Freedom from a world that pretends not to see the scars beneath the skin. This is my story. Not of the violence I survived, but of the voice I found. Because running away wasn’t the end. It was the beginning.
Purpose of the Book
November 25th: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Every November 25th, the world comes together to say: Not one more.
This day is a powerful reminder that gender-based violence is not a private issue—it’s a global crisis that steals lives, silences voices, and destroys dreams.
We must never forget: No partner, spouse, or life companion has the right to mistreat us.
Tolerating any form of abuse is never acceptable. From the very first warning sign, we must act—to protect our bodies, our minds, and our futures. That means reaching out for help, reporting the violence, and building the legal evidence that can save lives.
No woman, anywhere in the world, should have to endure abuse in silence. We must stand together, raise our voices, and refuse to accept a life lived in fear.
And when police intervention is not enough, there is hope. Countless organizations exist to help survivors escape the darkness of violence and step into the light of safety and freedom.
These organizations remind women:
You are not to blame.
You deserve to be safe.
You are not alone.
They offer the resources, shelter, legal support, and compassion that empower survivors to rebuild their lives free from violence and fear.
This book is my contribution to that fight—a voice that joins the global chorus demanding a world where every woman can live with dignity, freedom, and hope.
Together, we can—and must—say: Never again.
Clarification: Why I Chose This Topic
Because it could happen to any of us. One moment, a woman is in love, believing she’s safe in the arms of someone she trusts. The next, she’s caught in a nightmare of fear, humiliation, and pain—with no idea where to turn or who will believe her.
They Are Me was born from the truth that any woman—survivor or victim—could be the story on these pages. Gender-based violence wears many faces: beatings, threats, sexual violence, humiliation, insults, intimidation. Each act tears away pieces of a woman’s dignity, her spirit, her very identity.
Several forces compelled me to write this book.
The harrowing story of Lorena Gallo, former wife of John Bobbitt, whose years of torment drove her to an act of desperate self-defense that shocked the world.
The haunting lyrics of Ricardo Williams in Arenas movedizas (“Shifting Sands”) and Gloria Trevi’s powerful anthem Ellas soy yo (“They Are Me”).
The ever-growing, devastating statistics of femicide that demand we say: Enough.
November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, pulses at the heart of this book. Through these pages, I want to reach women living this silent terror. I want to offer hope—to help them believe that escaping is possible, that there is life and dignity beyond fear.
I humbly admit: I have not lived this nightmare myself. I cannot fully grasp the depth of the pain so many women carry. But as a woman, I know this much: No one deserves to suffer in silence.
We must thank God for the gift of life and trust in His guidance to give us strength and courage. And we must also find that same courage within ourselves—to say “No more,” and walk away from relationships that threaten our lives and souls.
I think of my nieces. Of future generations. And I feel a responsibility burning in my chest to do something—anything—to help end this epidemic.
No man can truly understand the wound left behind each time a woman is abused. It breaks my heart that so many remain trapped. Sometimes, I confess, I feel deep anger toward men because of this endless violence. But I know hatred isn’t the answer.
The answer is standing tall, looking an abuser in the eyes, and saying:
“I will never allow you to hurt me again. Not ever. Not before it’s too late.”
And meaning it.
True testimony of a survivor of abuse against women
There is nothing more devastating than lying beside someone who says they love you—yet whose hands leave bruises on your skin, whose words slice into your spirit, who makes you believe that somehow, it’s all your fault.
For over two years, I lived inside that darkness.
I told myself I could fix him. That love could heal him. That if I just tried hard enough, he’d stop hitting me, stop screaming insults, stop tearing me down piece by piece.
Each time his fists found me, I wept into my pillow, praying for him to vanish. The emotional wounds bled deeper than the physical ones. I felt myself slipping away, becoming a shadow.
But today, I know the truth: I deserve love. I deserve respect. I deserve peace.
Seven months ago, I survived my last beating. Dazed and trembling, I finally whispered for help. And help came.
If you’re living with violence—please, listen to me: Seek help. Even when the justice system feels sluggish or indifferent, take that step. I filed a police report. I went to my local Gender Policy Office. And there, in the quiet offices and gentle conversations, I found the first fragile threads of hope. I began the long journey back to myself—to my dignity, as a woman, and as a human being.
Healing isn’t easy. It’s a road paved with grief, fear, and sleepless nights. Sometimes you mourn the person you thought he was, and the future you thought you’d have. Sometimes you don’t even recognize your own reflection.
But please believe me:
You are worthy of happiness.
It’s okay to feel afraid.
You are not alone.
I hold no hatred in my heart. Once, I loved him. Part of me still wishes him peace—and hopes he’s learned how to love without violence.
But more than anything, I hope no woman ever has to endure what I did.
Thought of the writer
On November 25th, the world stands still. Because November 25th marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women—a day when our voices must rise like thunder and refuse to be silenced.
A day when we take to the streets and shout:
“Stop killing us!”
“We deserve to live!”
“Not one more!”
“Don’t abuse us!”
“Our bodies are not your opinion!”
“Respect us—as women and as human beings!”
Because there’s one truth we must carve into stone:
We belong to no one.
We are not property, not objects, not collateral for a man’s anger or control. We are women. And we hold the power over our bodies, our futures, and our lives.
Never, ever, should we diminish ourselves or betray who we are for the sake of any man’s so-called “love.”
Love is never fists.
Love is never humiliation.
Love is never rape.
If someone raises a hand against us—partner, spouse, or stranger—that is not love. That is violence. And we must call it by its name. We must report it. Expose it. Refuse to let fear silence us.
Because silence is what abusers count on. They count on us enduring in secret—the biting, the bruises, the insults whispered like poison in our ears. They count on our shame. Our silence. Our hope that “he’ll change.”
But here’s the truth: This is not life. It’s survival in chains. And we deserve so much more.
If you’re living in fear, please—get out. Seek help. Talk to family, friends, someone you trust. Call the authorities. Especially if children are involved.
Silence feeds violence. And sometimes, silence kills. Let’s name what’s happening around the world for what it truly is:
A gender-based genocide. A systematic attack on women for being women. A campaign of control, humiliation, and sometimes death. We cannot let this continue.
We are human beings.
We deserve dignity.
We deserve the same rights and safety as any man.
If you’re trapped in a toxic relationship, don’t believe for a second that what’s happening to you is normal or acceptable. It’s not. Leaving is hard. It’s terrifying. But your life matters more.
Peace and happiness begin within you.
Even if you’re standing alone.
We must stop putting men—especially violent men—above our own well-being.
Violence is not the answer.
Sisterhood is.
Support is.
Respect is.
We can create a world where women feel safe, valued, and free. We can protect ourselves, and each other. And yes—sometimes, like Lorena Gallo, we must find the courage to defend ourselves, to end the nightmare, and reclaim our lives.
Above all, let us be grateful for life. And let us never tie our survival to any man. Instead, let’s place our trust in God—to guide us, give us wisdom, and fill us with the strength we need to rise, to live, and to love ourselves with dignity and hope.
Because we deserve nothing less.
