Suzanne Rust

Here's Karen Kibara, live at the Moth.

That was Karen Kabara.

Karen lives in Washington State where she is a case resources manager.

She loves writing and a good road trip.

Her son is an adult now and is about to get his Master's in International Business Administration.

Karen says that there are no words when it comes to the emotions she felt on the day she left.

Choosing between staying for the sake of her son or leaving him behind to save herself was heart-wrenching.

We at The Moth were grateful that Karen was able to leave her abusive marriage.

But although she did emphasize that her husband adored and cared for their son, and she felt he would be safe, we couldn't help but worry.

I asked her to talk a little bit more about this, and I also asked if and how she was able to stay in touch with her child over the years.

We can't help thinking of women like her all over the world who have to take extreme measures to protect themselves.

To see photos of Karen and her son, go to themoth.org.

Our final story will take us to Jamaica, where a little boy makes a special discovery in his local bookstore.

That's when the Moth Radio Hour continues.

You're listening to the Moth Radio Hour.

I'm Suzanne Rust.

Our last story is a testament to the intrigue and power of books.

Writer Colin Channer told it at a Moth main stage at the Shubert Theater in Boston, where our presenting partner is WBUR.

Here's Colin live at the Moth.

That was Colin Shanner.