Bekky
He gave me so much attention. So much ‘love’. I couldn’t get enough. He wanted to see me every day. College became difficult though; I had to stop hanging around with guy friends to be ‘a loyal girlfriend’.
Before I knew it, I had no friends. He rang me for the tenth time that day – just a few minutes after the last call.
“I’m not with anyone.”
“You better not be lying.”
I moved in with him. College became unbearable; I quit. He kept reminding me that it was my choice, my fault, my failure.
When I went to work I always had to be in contact with him. I wasn’t allowed to buy food as he said it would be selfish – me eating when he was not. He accused me of cheating and lying.
He tormented me so much I gave myself a concussion from trying to knock myself out.
He’d follow me around, shouting. He kicked me, threw me across rooms, pushed me. Those punches – ‘play fighting’, he said – left bruises.
Soon, apart from work, I wasn’t allowed to go out. He’d humiliate me, calling me names. I’d be in the shower and he’d turn it off. He would rip my towel and clothes off me. He’d follow me to work. He smashed mirrors, the oven, my phone. He punched holes in walls and locked me in the house. If I tried to leave, he’d rip my shoes off.
I lost contact with friends and family. The suicide threats from him were abundant, alongside the very real threat of killing me. I got so low that I found it near impossible to speak. I never knew I’d been sexually assaulted until after I left and the police told me. My mind was so manipulated that I thought I deserved it.
This is my message: if you know someone in an abusive relationship, support them. Help them try to see what’s going on, but never try to push them into anything.
If you’re in an abusive relationship, I know it’s very difficult to spot the signs early on – but now you know some of them, act on that instinct and get out. The easiest way to see if your relationship is poisonous is to ask yourself, “How do they make me feel about myself?”
And please, tell someone. This is about finding our voices again, after having had them taken away for so long.
Looking for help or someone to talk to? Visit our Support Page – we’re here for you!
Your voice matters, sharing your story as a young survivor of domestic abuse can make a huge difference to others going through similar stuff. When you speak up anonymously, it can be a real comfort to someone feeling isolated. Your privacy is totally protected, so you can share without any worries at all. This is a safe space just for you to open up and make a difference without any fear.
Do you have a story to tell? Email website@womensaid.org.uk
Alice’s Story
Alice Liveing is a 3x bestselling author and a Women’s Health magazine columnist. She is also a survivor.
At the age of 16, Alice entered her first relationship. Over the next 18 months she endured emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her boyfriend. She was terrified, and didn’t want anyone else to find out.