Advice/suggestions? did i deserve it?

A couple weeks ago I encountered my first EVER physical confrontation with a brother of a girl I was kind of "talking" to. To make a long story as short as possible...

She was someone I met and kind of dated for a very short amount of time. I knew she wasn't good for me but I kept her around for really stupid and selfish reasons. At one point she got angry with something I told her and slapped me across the face twice! Why in the hell I didn't walk away for good during that time is so far beyond me. She than proceeded to send me nasty emails and sent an extremely vile email to someone very important to me. I told her to leave me and my friends alone and she did. I went out a couple weekends ago and she was there with a new girl (thank god or so I thought). She kept her distance so I thought everything was fine until I left and her brother came up behind me and pushed me into my car. Unfortunately, I parked in a back lot and left earlier than most so no one was around. He kicked me behind my knees so I'd fall and proceeded to kick me in the stomach and chest. I walked away with a fractured rib and painful bruising so I guess I should be thankful that's all it was.

I've struggled with the idea that I deserved this. I've always been a very honest, respecful, open person but I did keep her around for reasons I shouldn't have. She knew I wasn't into her and my heart was else where so I can't really say she had no idea b/c she certainly did and choose to stay anyway but still. I have Karma tattoo'd on foot for a reason. I feel like Karma welcomed me that night for using someone the way I did.

I've also struggled with turning them in or not. I'm in MD and the process is a pain in the *** I quickly found out. As long as they leave me alone I"ll be fine but unfortunately I've never been attacked like that in my life so now everytime I walk outside I'm scanning every inch of space around me thinking one of them is going to pop out of a tree. Did I do the right thing by not turning them in?

Hi Dlphs99, thank you so much for being here with us and for sharing. I am so very sorry for what you went through and please know that you absolutely did not deserve that. No one ever deserves physical violence of any type and I know that this wasn't Karma. I think that you should absolutely go to the police and report this act of violence against you. You can explain that you were in total shock and pain, and that you were alone and afraid.

We all make mistakes when it comes to relationships for one reason or another, but we learn and grow from them. We don't mean to hurt others, but unfortunately sometimes it turns out that way regardless. Please know that we are here for you; take good care of yourself and let me know how you are doing. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Thanks so much!

Logically I know I didn't deserve what I got but like I said I've always been a very honest and open person. I'm so **** honest I swear it's annoying sometimes but I truly do believe in karma. Even though I was up front with her I still feel bad. In a way I feel like I toyed with her emotions and that's why I say karma bit me in the ***.

I did file a police report but haven't pressed formal charges. I really want everything to just go away.

Dlphs99, even really good and honest people go through hardships and experience bumps in the road. Please know that this is a bump in the road; keep pushing through, moving forward, and looking ahead to a brilliant and bright future.

I am so happy to hear that you filed a police report, I know that this will get resolved for you and be a thing of the past. You are in my thoughts and prayers.