Smoke Alarm | Lou's Story Part 1

You Probably Think This Story’s About You · 2025-01-07

This episode references domestic violence and other mature themes.
[Lou’s Story Part 1/3]
Lou's story isn’t just about survival—it’s a battle cry of reclamation.
In this chapter she unravels the deeply personal account of her entanglement with John, her manipulative and abusive ex-boyfriend. The emotional wounds of their relationship left scars that refused to fade, but it was the unexpected moment of seeing him again years later that pulled her back into the shadows of her past. As the trauma resurfaced, Lou found herself grappling with questions she thought she had buried.
In retracing the steps of her formative years and confronting the weight of generational trauma, Lou begins to piece together a path toward recovery. But healing isn’t a straight line — it’s a labyrinth of pain, resilience, and startling realizations that could change everything.

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https://rainn.org/about-rainn

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https://www.988lifeline.org

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https://www.childhelphotline.org/

National Drug Helpline call 844.289.0879
https://www.drughelpline.org/

National Domestic Violence Hotline
www.thehotline.com

Narcissist Abuse Resource
https://www.helpguide.org/

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You Probably Think This Story’s About You

This isn’t your typical true crime story.
Brittani Ard steps back into the shadowy labyrinth of memories, scars, and fragile ties that bind us to our past. Where wounds still ache and the bonds of connection blur between salvation and entrapment. After revealing her own story in the first 8 chapters, she’s pulling at the threads of the past—threads so delicate they threaten to unravel everything.
This time, it’s not just her story. It’s the stories of others whose lives intertwine with hers in ways no one could have predicted. A woman searches for a photograph of her abusive ex, but the picture holds more than just memories. A foster youth exchanges black trash bags for a voice that refuses to be silenced anymore, revealing a haunting past that demands to be heard. And a story of rekindled love, as strength and vulnerability collide to reveal what was always meant to be.
You Probably Think This Story’s About You is raw, haunting, and achingly human—a tapestry of messy, beautiful lessons stitched together by the lives we touch and the stories we share. The secrets we carried no longer have power over us

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