Everyone has an obligation to leave the person who hits them. They also have an obligation to leave if they are the hitter, or if they are the verbal abuser. There is this sick and sorry dance going on and both men and women are physically and verbally abused. It is sad when there is economic dependence and especially where there are children, but there are neither in this case...oh but I love him...Each case is different and each party has to accept responsibility for whatever part they played, if any, and get out if there is abuse. Easier said than done usually, but here there are no economic considerations at all. We also have to struggle against an automatic Men Bad Women Good assumption in all situations. mg