That really isn't the point here...
She IS patting herself on the back because she left. Read this part:
One strong day, however, I stopped forgiving. I stopped giving in. And I stopped letting you run, and ruin, my life. Of all the things I’ve done in my time on Earth, that’s one that I’m most proud of. That I got out. That I got away. That the clouds parted, even for a second, so I could see clearly. Clearly enough to leave, and never, ever come back.
The fact that she put up with his 5hit isn't what we're focusing on here. The fact that she's even bothering to remember this so vividly and write about it means that this guy made a huge impact on her life, on her feelings, and on her memories. The key to how he made himself prominently stand out is in this "article". Let's see what was going on, not only in the relationship, but what was going on when she wrote this:
I was in love with you.
I was madly, helplessly, totally in love with you.
I loved the idea of you.
I ignored the panic in my heart.
All of the beautiful gifts you bought me.
you would embarrass me
I would be scared to come home with you.
How you brought up my past, and made me feel bad about it.
How you went through my personal belongings, went through my stuff to criticize, shame, and devalue me.
The way you would say unimaginably horrible things to me, and mock me as I cried.
I was happy
How could I have been so weak?
So easily manipulated?
I was monster you told me I was.
I despise you
go **** yourself
That's a LOT of emotional fluctuation. All of this was going on in the relationship, and it was going on while she was writing that "article". This is not only what made him memorable, but it's also what made her stay. She was bouncing all over the place emotionally.
When a woman stays with a man who's "abusive", it has nothing to do with her boundaries. It has to do with how much she subconsciously enjoys the emotional rush she gets from being with him. She might tell you that she was living through hell, but she was unknowingly addicted to the situation she was in due to the emotional fluctuation she experienced.
Is it her fault for staying with him? Not at all. She's pre-wired to enjoy emotional fluctuation and
so are you. Is it her fault that she has the desire to recall her experience with this man instead of replacing him with a better one? Not at all. How do I know that she's still single? Just look at her other articles:
The 16 Most Common Boyfriend Offenses And Their Fair Punishments
Millennials’ Biggest Fear Is Never Finding Love
7 Fall Sex Tips To Totally Up Your Game
I’ve Decided To Become A Hot Girl
37 Totally Not Crazy Ways To Tell Him You Want To Be Exclusive
Women who have happily moved on to better men don't continue to write this kind of stuff. She's still searching for that
one guy to replace Mr. Abusive who caused her all that emotional fluctuation and make a deeper emotional imprint. SHE WON'T FIND HIM. Men don't become memorable because they keep her happy and treat her well. They also have to piss her off, make her cry, make her worry, and get her feeling all kinds of things.
There are ways to artificially create emotional fluctuation too. Show her a movie that makes her cry, and then take her into the bedroom and give her fantastic sex. Text her and tell her you've been in an accident and are in the hospital before you knock on her door. Tell her she's a bad girl and then kiss her neck. All that stuff creates emotional fluctuation.