User post: Was it all a wake up call: Chris Brown and Rihanna

Leigh Ann Fisher

I think most women have heard, "If they hit, walk away." Right? How many times has it been made apparent that if a man hits you once, he's bound to hit you again?

What happens when both parties are into abuse though?

Chris Brown was sentenced yesterday for the abuse he delivered to Rihanna hours before both were slated to perform at the 2009 Grammy's in February. His sentence consists of five years probation, six months of community service to be performed in Richmond, Virginia and ordered to stay away from his former girlfriend for the next five years. He must remain 100 yards away from Rihanna at all times unless at a music industry event were these terms may be harder to follow. The judge in the case, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg , told Chris Brown that violating these terms would result in imprisonment at the state level. He will serve his sentence in his home state of Virginia.

During the trial it was made evident that these two had a turbulent relationship all along. The first incident happened three months before the February beating while the couple was traveling in Europe. During an argument, Rihanna slapped Brown; He then shoved her into a wall. The second incident occurred while visiting Rihanna's home country of Barbados. Brown allegedly broke the front and passenger side windows on a Range Rover they were driving. Neither attack was reported.

The relationship was rocky and explosive to say the least. I've witnessed friends and friend's of family members that involve themselves in these abusive relationships time and time again. It's the drama of the relationship. It keeps it from getting stale. The fights, the slamming of doors, the screams of disgust and the eventual removal of one from the situation only allows for a 'wonderful reunion.'

Was this a wake up call for them both? If allowed to go on behind closed doors, would these two have eventually decided to separate or do you believe one would have wound up more severely hurt or dead?