She lost everything. Then she found the only thing that mattered. The night her husband held a gun to her head, Denise made a decision. Not in that moment - in that moment, she was frozen, watching her daughter's face peer around a corner. The decision came later, quietly, after the tears and the begging and the terrible realization that the life she knew was already over. She decided to live. Onward and Upward is the unflinching, deeply personal story of one woman's journey from abuse to wholeness - and a hand-on-your-shoulder guide for anyone walking that same road. From childhood sexual abuse to a violent marriage to the long, stubborn work of rebuilding an identity from ashes, Denise Lee holds nothing back. This is not a clinical textbook. This is a woman sitting across the kitchen table telling you the truth about what it takes to start over. Inside these pages, you will find: - A raw, honest memoir of surviving abuse and choosing to rebuild - Practical wisdom on confronting fear, reclaiming identity, and learning to trust again - Guided journal prompts and reflection questions for your own healing journey - An exploration of faith, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love - A curated reading list of 28 books for continued growth Inspired by C.S. Lewis's Reepicheep - the tiny, fearless mouse who laid down his sword and sailed toward the unknown because he believed something magnificent waited on the other side - this book is for every person who has been told their story is over. It isn't. The best chapter is the next one. Onward and upward.