To Hurt and To Hold: The Start of a Woman's Journey To Self-Discovery

As Sylvia Longmore reflects on her years of suffering in an abusive, troubled relationship, she slowly comes to realize that her inappropriately chosen husband could not have carried out such sustained perversions if she had not enabled him. The story, set in Jamaica and Canada, has all real characters, except Reason.

Sylvia, a Christian and mother of two is an educator and an artist and she also dabbles in real estate development. She marries the opportunistic, penniless, uneducated, younger, divorced and charismatic David Farisey with his great gift of glib. He dishonours the wedding vows and deceives her on every detail crucial to making the marriage successful. David moves into Sylvia's house, then attracts a swarm of unwanted people into her space.

Sylvia gives David a make-over and he becomes a church deacon. He then lies profusely to hide dark secrets, for self-embellishment and to vilify Sylvia. He depletes her investments, mistreats her and damages her health. Frequent Canadian vacations, constantly revive her mentally and physically.

This is a story of treachery and deceit, exploitation and extortion, abuse, betrayal and adultery. Yet, by the time it ends it will be one of survival and self-discovery, of healing and forgiveness.