Abbie's story

After 16 years together, we finally separated. The abuse was just constant throughout our relationship.

 

Whenever he said we were going for a drive, I knew it was a signal that I was going to be abused and likely abandoned somewhere. Like he would start an argument, becoming increasingly angry, which led to him driving very fast, and this terrified me. His reckless driving often caused other drivers to honk their horns, which, you know, only made him angrier towards the other drivers. I was trapped in the car, frightened of both what he might do to other drivers and his rage directed at me. He would blame me for making him angry, which he claimed led to his road rage.

 

I felt utterly trapped in the car with no escape and on a few occasions, I tried to get out of the car in slow-moving traffic, but he would watch my hands to prevent me from unfastening my seat belt, and after that, he would ask if I wanted to get out, and out of fear, I would always say no [voice trembles]. At that point, he would tell me he didn't want me in the car anyway and force me out, abandoning me.