For two years, the Flemish Ellen underwent the abuse by her partner in silence. When she was mistreated again recently after her father’s funeral, it had been enough for her. She decided to share a photo of her battered face on Facebook. It sparked a flood of responses.
–
“I’m not doing this to get attention”, Ellen tells the Flemish newspaper The newspapaer. “But even the day that was dedicated to my father, he has taken from me. I will always remember the funeral like this: as the day I was hit and bumped again. It was the last straw for me, that’s why I made that photo public. Because I realized that there was no way back then, not even for me. ”
–
Before meeting her boyfriend, Ellen had a job as a store manager and had quite a bit of savings. She hasn’t had anything since her relationship started. The beatings began almost immediately after she met him. “After just a few weeks he hit me for the first time”, says Ellen. “He then started to cry, said he was sorry and that he would never hurt me again. But every time I forgave him, it turned out to be a reason for him to do worse things. ”
–
–
Too good
Ellen always had hope that her boyfriend would repent. However, that moment never came. “I may have been naive, but I thought I could save him,” said Ellen. “I wanted to help him if he had fines or other problems. I paid his debts, his lawyer. I was too good. ”
A perforated eardrum, five rib fractures, a stab wound and a battered face later hit her boyfriend again last weekend. After the funeral of her recently deceased father, he beat her hard. “After a banal argument about a Netflix series he was watching, he hit my head with his fists against the chair where I was sitting. I rolled into a ball on the ground and he started stamping. ”
–
Declaration
Ellen’s mother eventually took the boy to his own home and Ellen called the police for the umpteenth time. She no longer takes her seriously, because she has withdrawn her complaint numerous times. For that reason, she has now filed a declaration at another location.
By sharing the photo on Facebook, Ellen now hopes to put an end to this period. She also wants to warn other women who are in a similar situation. “Don’t make the same mistake as I do and stop immediately. There is no hope: someone who does such a thing will always stay that way. I am so ashamed that it had to come this far for me. If only I had listened to my parents, family and friends. ”
–
If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can get help from Safe at Home in the Netherlands. This is the advice and reporting center for domestic violence and child abuse. Safe at home can also help you if you are a perpetrator or witness of domestic violence. Safe at home can be reached free of charge on 0800-2000.
–
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on the stars.
–
–
