Sarah wants to open the eyes of other victims. A special education nurse separated after 13 years and almost paid for it with her life. Even though they were separated, the attacks did not stop.
Now Sarah has moved to another city – and is finally free!
Violence during pregnancy
The relationship with the former partner existed from the beginning domestic violence The 42-year-old said: “It started early, mainly with psychological violence. And there were always situations where he was also physically violent.”
The photo shows Sarah during her relationship
Sarah recalls: “Once upon a time pregnancy he spat in my face. There is everything – from pushing to hitting while holding the baby. I didn’t even realize what was actually happening.”
Sarah with her daughter. BILD had made the girl unrecognizable for its own protection
Sarah initially worked as an industrial employee and then completed further training: “I retrained as a mental health nurse on a psychiatric ward. There it became clear to me that something was wrong with us and with him.”
Sarah is finally free again today
And later: “At my last training area, a residential area for women with trauma-related disorders, my colleagues and superiors opened my eyes. They took great care of me, listened to me, supported me – again and again. I knew then that I had to get out of there.”
“At that time I thought he was going to kill me.”
She said about the end of their relationship: “When I separated, he beat me all over the house, in front of the three children. At that time I thought he was going to kill me. A police report and an application for protection against violence helped for the moment. However, the process was stopped in exchange for a payment of 300 euros to a women’s shelter!”
The photo shows Sarah after separating
But the attacks did not stop. “We’ve been apart for a long time,” he said. “Despite this, he still went on hateful tirades towards me, told nonsensical stories, and tried to make our lives difficult.”
“I want to wake people up with my story”
What helps him in situations like this? “My boss at the time was there straight after the attack and knew what to do,” explains Sarah. “And I spoke to other women who went through something similar. Friends turned away in situations like this because they couldn’t take it. The victim protection officer here was great too, he always stood up for me.”
Sarah has started a new life and doesn’t want to look away, but instead wants to stand up for others. She said: “I found the courage to live a new life and want to awaken you with my story. Don’t look away. Something has to change for victims of domestic violence in Germany.”
