“It took me seven attempts to finally escape.”

“When people say it takes seven attempts for a woman to leave, they often refer to the victim returning to the abuser. In my case, escaping from a severe domestic violence abuser, who also exploited me through what is known as labor trafficking, took that many attempts to finally break free.

The last time, he escalated from physical violence to attempted murder, and he was always armed. I am intimately aware of the dangers involved in both domestic violence and trafficking crimes, as well as the threat of gun violence. I know I am lucky to be alive today, while others didn’t make it out.”