WARNING: This post contains descriptions of domestic violence that may be triggering to some readers.
A woman, trapped in a headlock, dragged across a supermarket car park by the man she loves.
That’s the haunting image painted by a domestic violence victim in an open letter to a better man, a decent man, a who stepped in and potentially saved her life.
The woman names neither herself nor her saviour in the powerful Reddit post, but the story is sadly all too familiar.
She wrote of being trapped for years in an abusive relationship, of violence that escalated over the preceding few days. Her car, phone, computer – any contact to outside world – cut off.
“The only reason he risked taking me in public was because the income tax return was in my name and he wanted me to cash it for him,” she wrote.
“I honestly expected him to kill me afterwards.”
And so, she found herself being assaulted outside Walmart, too afraid to cry for help in case it angered him further.
“As my husband dragged me in a headlock through the parking lot towards our car, I struggled to escape his grasp, hoping someone would notice and care,” she wrote to her saviour.
“You noticed, and more importantly, you cared enough to do something.”
The woman’s letter tells how this “average, somewhat timid looking man” holding the hand of a little boy stood up to her “large, intimidating” husband, telling him ‘You can’t do that, dude’.
“Your voice stopped not only my husband in his tracks, but several other nearby patrons. My hope of rescue began to build,” she wrote.
A former abuser talks about domestic violence in Australia. Post continues…
Top Comments
My boyfriend and I were at a train station and we saw a male person (I refuse to call him a man - real men do not behave in this way) attacking what we assumed was his partner. We had already called the police, but while they were on their way, she ran towards us and I stood in front of her - I remember thinking really clearly, 'Oh, it's okay, he won't hit me as I'm a girl'.
My boyfriend then stepped in, yelled at him to be a real man, grabbed both of us and the three of us ran down the stairs and jumped on the train that was just arriving (even though it was going in the wrong direction).
I often think of her and hope she was able to make the decision to leave him. It was terrifying - and I didn't actually register that he had already proved he was low enough to hit a girl...
I have stepped in twice when I wasn't quite sure what was going on. Both times it was at a pub/bar and alcohol was involved. One of them, I saw the couple arguing and he was standing over her screaming at her, she was cowering and looked scared so I walked over and asked if everything was okay. They both said yes they were fine but as he had stood back to address me, I stood in front of him facing the girl and asked if she was sure she was okay. After assuring me she was, they both thanked me profusely for having the courage to say something and it seemed to dissipate the argument.
Both times I have stood up, both members have thanked me for saying something, even if it wasn't what was happening. I understand that I potentially endangered myself by doing this, but I would do it time and time again if it could mean that I've saved a life.
We need more ppl like you.
Thanks Kristy. I do what I can :)