‘The Point of Exhale’ by Kimberly Brown: Finding the courage to heal

“The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.” — Frederick Douglass.

This quote sets the tone for Kimberly Brown's The Point of Exhale. The author rightly provides a trigger warning, cautioning readers about the book’s core themes—domestic abuse, sexual assault and addiction—and allowing them to decide whether to proceed.

This story follows Elise Bennet, a 37-year-old mother of two, O’Neal and Imani, and wife to Marshall. They have been married for over a decade, their relationship beginning—like many others—full of love and hope for a happily-ever-after, unaware that ‘forever’ is a long time.

A lot can happen in forever—for the lucky ones, it means a lifetime of love. But for the unlucky, happily ever after, it turns into a nightmare—a prison they spend their lives trying to escape.

Elise falls into the latter.

“I didn't know the man I shared a bed with anymore. In fact, I hadn't known him for years. With every push, every shove, every slap to the face, he turned from the sweet sixteen-year-old boy I met in high school to my worst nightmare, personified. Gone were the days of him showering me with adoration and attention, the days he used to woo me.”

In the worst cases, the abuse extends to the children, forcing them to live in fear of a father who, in an ideal world, should be their protector, teaching them love and shielding them from the dangers of the unsafe world we live in.

For O’Neal and Imani, home became a place of fear, not comfort—a space they no longer wanted to be part of. Witnessing their mother suffer abuse, powerless to protect her, left deep emotional scars.

“He is gonna kill you!” I can’t sit back and watch him do that to you, mama.” O’Neal told his mother one night after yet another brutal beating from her husband.

As with many abusers, he isolates his victim from the people she loves—those who could protect her from him. He ensures she becomes entirely dependent on him so she feels stuck with him no matter what he does.

Elise has no one but him. He convinced her to leave her job to stay home and raise their children. This might be a beautiful arrangement in an ideal world with a loving partner. But it becomes a trap in the hands of an oppressive partner with destructive motives.

An opportunity presents itself one day when Marshall leaves for one of his so-called "business trips"—trips Elise knows all too well have nothing to do with business. This time, she decides to save herself for the second time.

After more than 15 hours on the road, Elise starts a new life, hoping that her nightmare will never catch up with her and her children again. This is a clean slate—a chance to heal, to start over without constantly looking over her shoulder.

Then, she meets Safari Johnson.

Safari Johnson has his own struggles to grapple with. Raised by his mother, Jennifer—a drug addict trying to escape the demons of her past—he often went days without proper food. At eight years old, his mother gave him up to a drug-dealing businessman to whom she owed money for supplying her with drugs.

“There I was at eight years old, peddling drugs in my Spiderman bookbag. I wasn't the only kid he employed, either. Most of them came from broken homes. He gave them an opportunity to make money, and they jumped at it.”

Safari is a reserved man who has never known love. Since childhood, he has faced unimaginable hardships. However, when he meets Elise and her children, his world changes; he starts envisioning a life filled with love and possibly having his own family.

Elise and Safari’s connection isn’t instant. Both are guarded, instinctively protecting themselves from further pain. But the grace they extend to each other begins to change that. Together, they start a healing journey—one built on honesty and openness about the demons they carry from their past.

The Point of Exhale is fast-paced, emotionally charged, and exceptional in character development. Brown has crafted characters who are, above all, deeply human. Each strives to save themselves and their loved ones from the world's dangers. From Elise to Safari, from Safari’s mother to Elise’s children, they embody the resilience needed to stand up for oneself, heal, and move forward without being defined by past struggles.

Readers will reach the end of the book with a deeper understanding of addiction, abuse, and the courage it takes to save oneself. They will be left with the hope that perhaps love is what gives us the strength to forgive and let go.

Jane Shussa is passionate about books, coffee, nature, and travel. She serves as a Senior Digital Communications Officer for Twaweza East Africa.