Thanks Sarah! You are right, she is just a human. That realization is absolutely powerful and liberating because sometimes victims (including, and especially myself) act as their abusers are gods with some kind of special powers. They may have hypnotic powers but it's not like they can make the lightening fall on me if I were to say "No" or stare back.

Now what my counselor have been saying all along is finally sinking in:

"What's the worst she could do to you? So what if she retaliates and spread rumors about you. If some mutual friends believe her and side with her, were they really worthy to be your friends in the first place?"