Just a year before the life-altering attack, Kayla was trapped in a toxic and abusive relationship. Raised by a single mother, she never had a clear example of what a healthy relationship looked like. At just 17 years old, she began dating an older man, who manipulated, isolated, and abused her — both emotionally and physically.
“I used to be my attacker’s property. He manipulated me to the point where I almost lost everything and everyone in my life,” she says.
Still, like many young people experiencing their first love, she clung to the belief that things could get better — that he might change.
The Day Everything Changed
That hope ended on October 17, 2017 — a day Kayla will never forget. Her ex-boyfriend, Seth Aaron Fleury, then 21, couldn’t accept that their relationship was over. When Kayla refused to reconcile, his response was horrific.
“I remember every detail of this very moment. The thoughts that ran through my mind when I opened my camera were very dark, which only seemed to worsen. Sitting in a puddle of my own blood with the majority of my lip laying on my leg, my whole mouth on fire, confused and terrified, I didn’t know how I could ever show my face again. At that point, honestly wishing that those very seconds would just be my last — I wanted to give up for good.”
A Fake Apology Turned Brutal Attack
Kayla had agreed to meet Seth that afternoon because he said he wanted to apologize. But when she made it clear she had no interest in getting back together, he snapped. He tried to force a kiss, and when she pulled away, he bit off her lower lip.
“He then yanked me out of my own vehicle and slammed the door in my face so he could take off, and run away from what he had just done. He continued to call me once I made it into the ambulance, which felt like a lifetime after having something many women hold precious to them, completely mutilated. I just don’t understand how you could be filled with such anger,” Kayla says.
The Aftermath: A New Reality
Surgeons attempted to reattach Kayla’s lip, but the damage was irreversible. The tissue was too destroyed to save, and doctors had to cut into her cheeks to stitch the wound shut.
“I remember waking up, looking up to my nurse trying to lighten the air around me, and making a joke about how at least now I wouldn’t have to dress up for Halloween to scare everybody, that I could now go as my self. … She chuckled and nodded then proceeded to bring me to get a mask to cover my face. That was when it hit me; this was my new reality. What I just woke up from was no joke. Never a day in my life will I ever wake up living my ‘normal’ life again.”
From Shame to Strength
For a long time, Kayla blamed herself for staying in the relationship. But over time, with support and healing, she realized she had done nothing wrong. The day she stood firm and said “no” to Seth was the day she reclaimed her life.
A year later, on October 18, 2018, justice was served. Seth was sentenced to 12 years in prison for aggravated assault.
A Survivor, Not a Victim
Today, Kayla wears her scar not with shame, but with strength.
“I will continue to wear my scars as wings and I will continue to stay kind and stay strong. And I will rise above this,” she says.
Through her platform She Rises with Kayla Hayes, she now shares her story to empower others — especially those stuck in abusive relationships.
A Call to Action
Too many people — women and men alike — remain in toxic relationships, holding on to fleeting moments of affection amid the chaos. But Kayla’s journey is a powerful reminder: real love does not hurt.
If you or someone you know is living in fear or experiencing violence, take that brave first step. Choose safety. Choose freedom.
You deserve to live without fear.