I am currently pulling an all nighter and spontaneously decided I wanted to emotionally process this and share it I guess.

My mom and dad have been divorced since I could form memories, I don't really have a timeline or date or age that it happened, just as long as I can remember I have been spending 50/50 between their houses, same city.

My dad has some problems: trauma, anger management, lonely, conspiracy believer, can't really accept that he does wrong, refuses to accept other opinions or perspectives, maybe lost some of his mind somewhere. These traits make him a bit hard to be around and have most definitely contributed to his many failed relationships and his blow ups (he also been to jail a couple of times). You can take all these points with some grains of salt but if you want to read further and form ur own opinions, feel free to. I don't want to imply he is always insufferable, but I would say that it got worse over time.

While I was in high school in my "rebellious" adolescence he and I had some disagreements and arguments which on their own aren't bad or anything. Near the end (the breaking point if you would), I legit did not feel safe in his house and had to sneak out of the house to call my mother to come pick me up from the street and bring me to her house. One of the last times I "escaped" from his house he was driving around the block, searching for me while I hid behind some cars parked on the street waiting to be picked up.

So I think that sets the stage well enough. Let's get into the event that led to me breaking contact with him. I was working my first part time job, I worked like 3 days or something a week, I was still in school so ya my time was split. Once I was of age to get my license my dad bought a car that was in an accident and spent a lot of time, money and effort repairing it (he is unemployed so his daily agenda was like watching YouTube conspiracy theories and building the car). The original plan was for us to work on it together, a lil project car together. But given the deteriorating relationship and the fact I was a teen working and studying in the IB program (iykyk) I cannot say that I wanted to spend much time with him on it, if I wasn't working or studying I wanted to chill, play video games or get high with friends. So he was a little annoyed that I didn't spend time on it with him but he never made a big thing about it. Once it was fixed he taught me to drive manual in it, had some good bonding and all.

Now, one day at work, I drove "my" car to work (really early into me driving on my own), parked it in the shitty cramped parking lot and was ya know, working my shift. While im on the clock, a customer comes in and says that someones car was hit in the parking lot... I probably ignore it and continue working, but then it registers... it sounds like "my" car. I go out and look... yep, someone hit the parked car, didn't leave a note, took off half the fucking bumper and destroyed the fender. Who doesn't love a hit and run. So, I call the cops and my dad. I can't say that I remember who arrived first, to close the short loop first, the cop was basically useless, nothing could be done cuz no camera and no info. Anyway, now my dad arrives at the store while im working and starts going the fuck off, yelling and berating me in the front of house, staff watching, customers watching, just blaming me for it all... because I parked it? I am not kidding you, it took until a random customer went up to him and told him to cool it and stop that he just up and left.

So, I am no stranger to him going into these kinds of emotional outbursts. I have seen it multiple times with family and past step moms (there were a good few). But only recently had they started to be directed at me... probably because no one else was around. So, I finish my shift and go home to my moms. During this time he sends me an insane amount of text messages demeaning me and what not basically continuing whatever he was yapping about in the store.

I will say, I believe this next part is the most traumatic thing that's happened to me. Probably the most emotional and crying ive done in my life.

Finally, we arrive at "The Event". It is a Monday June 10 2016, 4:26 PM, I get off the school bus and walk to my dad's house. I anticipated another blow up, so I have my phone out and hit record. As soon as I walk in the door, he starts going off. Still completely blaming me. We have never actually physically fought before. However, he does shove me around and get all up in my face during this exchange. The video I have is 5 minutes long. The yelling or whatever brings us to the top of the stairs (there's a big like spiral staircase in the middle of the house to the 2nd floor.) It is at the top of these stairs that I decide ive had enough, I put my hand around his neck, slam it into the wall. He fights back and overpowers me, in the tussle we break a mirror, and we end up on the floor rolling around in the shards of the mirror, this altercation comes to a close with me in a choke hold. He lets go of me, I get my shit together (everything is still in my school bag), I think I remember him still yapping bout some shit on my way out. I call an uber to my grandmas and spent the night with her (my mom was on vacation in Greece).

I cried my eyes out in that uber. I don't remember the conversation with the driver but he was tryna preach some perspective or smth idk. Anyway, from that day on I refused to interact with him.

There's a lot more I can add to this story. A LOT. I think ive made this post long enough as is. If anyone wants receipts or more I guess I can get into it. For now it is 7:20AM and I have not slept. I guess AITA for cutting this guy out of my life because he traumatized me and was insufferable to be around.

Edit (since I don't want to end it on a down note):
Since this unfolded almost a decade ago. I will say, life has really been on an upward trajectory. Next year I finish my engineering degree. I will say that my mom and I have our own problems (financially and some tension here and there, but she's trying to support me on her own until I adult).