< Translator’s note: The original formatting of the stories has been preserved. The translations aim to remain as close as possible to each author's original wording and expression.
I’ll share one of the stories that happened to me and my ex-partner. Our relationship lasted two years, and it was abusive. When I was finally able to leave him, I had to block him everywhere and change my phone number because, as always, he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer—he wouldn’t accept my refusal to communicate or continue the relationship.
About four or five months had passed since our relationship ended. And then one night (at home, in my room), I woke up because something had brushed past me and then moved away. A little light was visible from the next room, where my younger sister’s nightlight was on. And I saw that something was lying on the floor in my room. I’ve only been that scared a few times in my life. I lay there, not moving, for a minute, realizing that whatever was on the floor wasn’t moving. After that, I quickly got up and turned on the light—there he was, lying on the floor, my ex-partner: he was asleep, and he reeked of alcohol. It was 3 or 4 in the morning; it was winter.
I should make a quick note—he didn’t break the lock; it just so happened that on that day we forgot to lock the front door. And that happens.
To put it mildly, I was in shock. I tried to wake him up, but I couldn’t. Then I went and woke up my mom, explained the situation, and while she was getting up, I went back to try to wake him up again—this time it worked. He was surprised too, and I didn’t get a clear answer about how he ended up here or why. I don’t remember exactly what happened next, but I sent my mom back to bed because she had to get up at 6 for work, and I thought I’d see him out myself.
For a while, he sat on the floor in my room, and we talked. At first, we talked about something unrelated, but very quickly the conversation turned to him calling me a “whore” and telling me that he planned to kill my partner at the time to hurt me. I also remember that he wanted me to admit that I still loved him and loved only him. As he said: “I know you love me, but with such a SPECIAL kind of love.”
When he was already standing in the hallway, I went out there too, and he suddenly pinned me against the wall, grabbed me by the neck, choking me, started groping me, tried to kiss me, bit my neck hard (and even left a mark, but the police said it wasn’t serious :)), and kept repeating, “Say hi to your boyfriend.” After that, he fell to his knees and started begging for forgiveness, but I told him to just get lost, and that I wasn’t interested in his apologies.
Then he stood up and, with a very maniacal look, said, “Where are your knives? I’m going to kill your whole family right now.” But just then, my mom came out into the hallway and asked, “What’s all the commotion about?” and he ran off right then. We were both 19 years old. Now, four years later, he still tries to get in touch with me from time to time.
Yana; story shared in 2021 as part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign