She Thought It Was Love. What Happened Next Changed Her Life Forever.

We all go through tough times—days when it feels like everything is stacked against us. But for most of us, those moments eventually pass.

For Kayla Holmes, one moment changed her life forever. And every time she looks in the mirror, she’s reminded of it.

Her story is heartbreaking—and it puts our everyday struggles into powerful perspective.

⚠️ Warning: This story contains graphic content.

A Toxic Relationship That Turned Dangerous

Just one year before her attack, Kayla was in an abusive relationship with an older man. She was 17, still figuring out life, and he was her first love.

Growing up with a single mom, Kayla says she never really learned what a healthy relationship looked like. When she met Seth Aaron Fleury, she fell hard. But behind closed doors, he was controlling, manipulative, and physically abusive.

“I used to be his property,” Kayla said. “He manipulated me to the point where I almost lost everything and everyone in my life.”

Like many young people in abusive relationships, she stayed—hoping things would get better when he promised to change.

That hope came with a devastating cost.

The Day Everything Changed

October 17, 2017. A date forever burned into Kayla’s memory.

Her ex, Seth, was 21 at the time. He asked to meet up, claiming he wanted to apologize for how he treated her. She agreed, thinking maybe it was part of finding closure.

But Seth had other plans. When she made it clear she wasn’t getting back together, he snapped.

In a moment of unthinkable violence, Seth tried to force a kiss—and when Kayla pulled away, he bit down on her lower lip and tore it off.

He told her he wanted to “leave a mark” for the next guy who might love her.

Then he dragged her out of her own car, slammed the door in her face, and took off.

As Kayla sat in shock, bleeding and terrified, she remembers the horrifying moment:

“I was sitting in a puddle of my own blood with most of my lip on my leg. My whole mouth was on fire. I didn’t know how I could ever show my face again. I honestly wished those seconds would be my last. I just wanted to give up.”

The Aftermath

Seth fled the scene, and Kayla was rushed to the hospital. She says he even called her while she was in the ambulance.

Doctors tried to reattach her lip, but the damage was too severe. Surgeons had to cut into her cheeks just to close the wound. The physical and emotional pain was beyond anything she could imagine.

“When I woke up, a nurse tried to lighten the mood and joked that I didn’t need a Halloween costume. That’s when it hit me. This was my new reality. My old life was gone. Nothing would ever be the same again.”

Today, Kayla bears a scar that runs across her face—a permanent reminder of what happened. For a long time, she blamed herself. But with time, therapy, and support, she came to a powerful realization: it wasn’t her fault. It never was.

Finding Strength—and Justice

One year after the attack, on October 18, 2018, Seth was sentenced to 12 years in prison for aggravated assault.

Kayla no longer sees herself as a victim. She calls herself a survivor.

“I will continue to wear my scars as wings. I will stay kind, stay strong, and rise above this.”

A Message for Anyone Living in Fear

Kayla’s story is more than a cautionary tale—it’s a call to action. Too many people, both women and men, stay in toxic relationships, holding on to the good moments that seem to make the pain worth it.

But real love doesn’t hurt. Real love doesn’t leave scars.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please get help. Choose yourself. Choose safety. Choose life.

You’re not alone—and you don’t have to stay.