He said he loved her—then left her with a scar she’ll carry for life
She thought it was love. What her ex did next was unthinkable. But she found the strength to rise—and now she’s helping others do the same.
When Kayla Hayes ended her toxic relationship, she thought the worst was over. But a brutal attack from her ex left her permanently scarred—and unexpectedly strong.
Growing up with a single mother, Kayla didn’t have a clear idea of what a healthy relationship looked like. So when she started dating 21-year-old Seth Aaron Fleury at just 17, she mistook control and manipulation for love.
“He isolated me from my friends and convinced me I was the problem,” Kayla later wrote. “I used to be my attacker’s property.”
Like many teens, Kayla held on to the good moments, believing things could change. But the relationship turned abusive, both emotionally and physically. Eventually, she found the courage to leave him. What she couldn’t predict was how violently he would react to losing control.
On October 17, 2017, Kayla agreed to meet Seth one last time. He said he wanted to apologize. But when she made it clear she had no intention of getting back together, the situation quickly escalated.
Seth tried to force a kiss, and when she pulled away, he did something unthinkable: he bit down on her lower lip with such force that he tore it apart.
“I remember sitting in a puddle of blood, my mouth on fire, confused and terrified,” Kayla wrote in a post for Love What Matters. “I didn’t know how I could ever show my face again.”
Doctors tried to reattach the lip, but the damage was too severe. Surgeons had to cut into her cheeks to close the wound. Her physical recovery would take months—but the emotional journey would last much longer.
Wearing her scar as a symbol of strength
The scar across Kayla’s face is impossible to miss. But over time, she’s learned to wear it not as a mark of pain, but as a symbol of power.
“At first, I hated what I saw in the mirror. I blamed myself,” she admitted. “But now, I see a survivor. I see someone who said ‘no more.’”
After the attack, Kayla started She Rises with Kayla Hayes, a platform where she shares her story and offers support to others in abusive relationships. Her courage has inspired thousands—many of whom write to her saying her story helped them find the strength to leave.
Justice served—but scars remain
One year after the attack, on October 18, 2018, Seth Fleury was sentenced to 12 years in prison for aggravated assault. Kayla attended the sentencing and, though the trauma still weighed heavily on her, she felt empowered knowing he was being held accountable.
Domestic violence experts say Kayla’s experience is sadly not unique. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 11 female high school students report experiencing physical dating violence each year. Emotional manipulation, like the kind Kayla endured, is even more widespread and often harder to detect.
“Abuse isn’t always bruises,” says Dr. Emily Parker, a licensed therapist specializing in trauma recovery. “Control, isolation, guilt-tripping—these are all red flags. Stories like Kayla’s are critical because they help people recognize abuse early.”
Kayla’s healing hasn’t come easily. She’s undergone multiple surgeries and continues to work through the trauma in therapy. But today, she speaks with clarity and courage—and refuses to be defined by what happened to her.
“I will continue to wear my scars as wings,” she says. “Because I made it out. And now I’m helping others do the same.”
Her advocacy has been shared by thousands online, and she’s been invited to speak at schools and awareness events. She uses her platform to promote education about healthy relationships, especially among teens.
“You are not alone”
One of Kayla’s biggest goals is to remind others—especially young people—that abuse can happen to anyone, and leaving is not a sign of weakness, but strength.
Too many victims stay because they remember the kindness between the violence. But Kayla’s story is a reminder that real love never hurts.
If you or someone you know is experiencing dating violence or emotional abuse, help is available. In the U.S., call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788.
