Beneath My Scars is an emotional and intimate account of Maskerine’s escape from an abusive partner and the path that led her to safety. With unflinching honesty, she opens up about the isolating and paralyzing impact of domestic violence, shedding light on the complexities of leaving an abusive relationship. From a young age, Maskerine’s feminist ideals and sense of justice were deeply ingrained, and her experience only fortified her resolve. Despite the numerous hurdles she faced, she emerged with a determination to turn her pain into a purpose. At thirty, after fleeing her home and leaving behind a lifetime of connections, she found love, safety, and a calling in establishing a transition house to support other women in similar situations. Her story challenges the common question, “Why doesn’t she just leave?” and instead prompts us to ask, “Why does he do that?”

This powerful memoir is not just a testimony of survival but also a story of resilience, belonging, and the transformative power of breaking the silence. Maskerine’s narrative is a beacon of hope, illustrating how she transformed her scars into a roadmap for others to find their way to safety and self-discovery. It is also a poignant tale of the enduring love between a mother and her son, whose birth became the compass guiding her to a new life filled with meaning and purpose.

This is a story of a life saved.