At 17, Kayla Holmes was trapped in a toxic and abusive relationship with an older boyfriend, Seth Aaron Fleury. Raised by a single mother, she struggled to recognize the warning signs and held onto hope that he would change.
But on October 17, 2017, everything changed forever.
After Kayla ended the relationship, Seth asked to meet and apologize. Instead, when she made it clear she wasn’t getting back together with him, he snapped. Trying to “leave his mark,” he forced a kiss, then bit down on her lower lip and ripped it off before fleeing the scene.
Kayla was left bleeding and terrified, believing her life would never be normal again. Doctors tried to reattach her lip, but the damage was too severe, leaving her with permanent scars across her face.
For a long time, Kayla blamed herself. But with time, she realized the abuse was never her fault. The day she refused to take Seth back became the day she reclaimed her power.
One year later, Seth was sentenced to 12 years in prison for aggravated assault.
Today, Kayla calls herself a survivor, not a victim. She wears her scars with pride as a symbol of the strength it took to survive and continues sharing her story to remind others that love should never come with fear, violence, or abuse.