We were talking about forgiveness in the mental health forum, and I think the key is to put the past behind you. Certainly, you don't pretend that nothing has happend, or that "it's okay", but you accept the fact that it has happend and where you are at right now. On one level, you don't want to subject yourself to further abuse, which is why we leave the WTS. But to look at it another way, it seems that being personally identified, considering ourselves victims and they the abusers does kind of draw you back into that thinking pattern.
Certainly empathy may open one up to be vulnerable, but I think as long as you understand your emotions it wouldn't be a problem. For example, no doubt we can see in many the confusion and conflict we once felt, and we could understand that they just don't know any better. This doesn't mean what they do is right or that they're not responsible for it, but it does put things in perspective. We can just move on without giving much thought to the other person's state of mind, but it seems to me that's part of the lesson. You may avoid further abuse by trying to separate yourself physically, but I'd think ultimately it's by understanding that dynamic that you will learn to avoid it wherever you find it, rather than just those you've already identified as abusers.