This past fall marked a significant milestone for me – the beginning of my senior year at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. As a psychology major and health and wellness educator on campus, I’ve always been passionate about helping others. However, my journey has been profoundly shaped by an experience that challenges common misconceptions about relationship abuse, particularly concerning gender and sexuality. My name is Taylor Anderson, and this is the story behind my One Love Tattoo.
TRIGGER WARNING: The following content discusses relationship abuse, which may be triggering for some readers.
My introduction to One Love, a foundation dedicated to ending relationship abuse, came through an Escalation Workshop during a health and wellness group meeting. At that time, I was in a relationship that I knew wasn’t healthy, but I hadn’t fully grasped the extent of the danger I was in. My partner was unpredictable and prone to anger. The workshop had a powerful impact, showing scenarios that mirrored my own relationship dynamics and explicitly labeled them as abuse. Like many individuals in unhealthy relationships, the idea of ending things was daunting. Nervousness, fear, and the complexity of living together created significant barriers. Yet, the workshop ignited a spark of courage within me, and I knew I had to find a way out. I was unprepared for the events that would unfold when I finally attempted to leave.
For anyone who has experienced a relationship like mine, please know that you are not alone and it’s okay to seek help. Abuse can affect anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Don’t let fear or shame prevent you from coming forward. It truly takes just one person or moment to change a life, and that’s what I hope to achieve by sharing my story and my one love tattoo meaning.
One day, about an hour away from our apartment, an argument erupted after I expressed my decision to end the relationship. In retaliation, my partner abandoned me in an unfamiliar town, leaving me stranded without transportation. I reached out to a friend for a ride and called my mother, anticipating a difficult confrontation upon returning home. By the time I arrived back at our apartment, my resolve was firm. “This is it,” I thought, “It’s truly over.” I was done with my partner’s behavior and determined to end the relationship, regardless of his agreement. He was there, waiting. When I told him he had to leave permanently, the situation escalated dramatically. He began to strangle me. In a desperate attempt to defend myself, I reached for a handle bottle on a nearby table, intending to strike his knee and break free. However, he intercepted the bottle, snatching it from my grasp. My act of self-defense only fueled his rage. He struck me on the head with the bottle and then used the broken glass to slash me across the chest. He fled the scene, leaving me injured and alone. My mother, living in Connecticut, a state away, had become worried and was already driving to check on me. She arrived to find me unconscious and bleeding heavily. She immediately rushed me to the hospital, where doctors treated my wounds with numerous stitches and diagnosed a severe concussion.
In the aftermath of this horrific incident, I never spoke to him again. He disappeared without a word, no attempt to check on my well-being, simply vanished. The relationship was finally over, leaving me with deep physical scars and profound emotional trauma. Amidst the pain and confusion, I discovered inner strength to move forward. This period coincided with my deeper engagement with One Love. As they say, you truly discover who your real friends are during times of crisis. I found solace and support in the One Love community, and my involvement with the foundation became a crucial part of my healing journey. Sharing my experience has since become a way for me to educate others about the prevalence of relationship abuse and guide those in unhealthy situations towards help.
Following the attack, my commitment to One Love intensified. I became an advocate, pushing for One Love workshops, particularly the Escalation Workshop, to be presented in all resident halls, ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn about relationship abuse. I also championed the Couplet campaigns on campus, aiming to spark conversations and raise awareness. My ultimate goal is to encourage open dialogue about relationship abuse. Once people start talking and connecting with others who are equally passionate, real change can begin. I also aspire to connect with like-minded individuals, especially within the LGBTQ+ community, who are willing to advocate against abuse. Relationship abuse is often mistakenly perceived as a problem exclusive to heterosexual relationships and affecting primarily women. I want to challenge this narrow view and protect others from the dangers of intimate partner violence, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Last summer, I made a significant step in my healing process by getting the One Love heart tattooed on my arm. For me, tattoos have always been a powerful form of personal expression and a way to heal from past traumas. This one love tattoo represents my journey of overcoming relationship abuse and serves as a constant reminder of the support and healing I found through the One Love Foundation. Looking back, I am profoundly grateful to be a survivor. I hope that by sharing my story and displaying my one love tattoo, I can inspire others to come forward and seek help. For anyone in a similar situation, please know that you are not alone and it is okay to ask for help. Abuse can happen to anyone. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to seek support. It only takes one act of courage, one conversation, one moment of connection to change a life – and that is the powerful message I hope to convey through my story and my one love tattoo.
