Confession of Girl on her IELTS Preparation Phase

I was only 20 when I met what I thought was my perfect match while studying for IELTS, dreaming of a future abroad. We clicked, and he quickly proposed. I said yes, unaware that he had already been divorced. Before I knew it, I was married to him.

His parents seemed kind initially, but his mother soon started treating me poorly, gaslighting me, and making me feel like a servant. I had to accept this mistreatment because I married him against my parents’ wishes, and they had distanced themselves from me.

Things went south when we visited his family after three years. His mother convinced him that I was “using him” and not contributing enough financially. This led to a huge rift between us, and even when we returned home, we barely spoke.

His behavior deteriorated-he started drinking heavily, and his mistreatment became unbearable. In a desperate attempt to salvage our relationship, I decided to have a baby, hoping it might bring us closer. But the abuse continued, now mixed with feigned affection, making me cling to the hope that things would improve.

My pregnancy was marked by increasing violence. At 37 weeks, he came home drunk and violently assaulted me. I had to call the police, who told me to “resolve it peacefully” due to my condition. Soon after, I was hospitalized for an emergency C-section, with him absent and indifferent while I fought for my health and our baby’s.

When our daughter was born with a congenital heart condition, things worsened. His family told him the child would be a burden, and his treatment of me became even harsher. He neglected both me and our daughter, causing severe stress and leading to depression. One night, he crossed the line and hurt our baby.

I managed to call for help and get him out of our lives. I reported the abuse and began the process of leaving him behind. Despite his refusal to support us and the abandonment by friends and family, I fought to survive for my daughter’s sake.

After the divorce, his visa was revoked due to the domestic violence, and he was sent back to India. My daughter’s surgery was successful, and with some help from my mother, I managed to get back on my feet and return to work. Yet, the trauma still haunts me. I struggle with trust, happiness, and even basic self-care.

Every day is a battle to provide for my daughter and keep us both safe, with no support system and constant reminders of the pain I endured. I’m holding on, one day at a time, unsure of how much longer I can keep going.