It’s been nearly 3 years since I left my ex and I still don’t sleep properly, that fear at night is crippling. He groomed me from the first night I met him. It started with lies and cheating, then it got more insidious. He gaslighted me every chance he got I questioned my sanity all the time. The first time he assaulted me he tried to choke me then pushed my face into the mattress I couldn’t breathe. I took him back he cried but blamed me. He done it again told me it’s time for you to die now! I thought I will never see any of my family again how will they cope with this but I was lucky. Those words still haunt me. I lost myself completely. I knew when I had my daughter I had to get out I wasn’t having her witness this. Two wks after having her he punched me in the arm after getting an injection in hospital for a blood clot. He showed no remorse I was broken. He slapped me and spat in my face when she was a few months. The saddest part of it all I lost the one person who was always there my mother, I honestly think the stress of all the yrs of abuse I endured took its toll on her body. She never got to see me get out and I will always carry that with me but I know she gave me the strength to leave.

 
Notice: The names in this story are fictitious to protect the request for anonymity.