He hid my tablets, so I had to ask for them. Sometimes, I even had to beg. He knew how important they were for me. Without them, I’d be in pain. It was like he had control over me. It made me feel powerless.
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

Tablets

He hid my tablets, so I had to ask for them.

Sometimes, I even had to beg.

He knew how important they were to me. How much I needed them just to get through the day. How without them, the pain would creep in, twisting through my body, making every movement a struggle.

And that was the point, wasn’t it?

It wasn’t about the pills. It wasn’t about my health. It was about control.

The first time he “forgot” where he put them, I believed him. Thought maybe it was an accident, that they’d just been misplaced. I searched the cupboards, the drawers, under the bed—anywhere they could have fallen. Meanwhile, he sat there, watching. Amused.

When I asked, he shrugged. “I don’t know, babe. You’re always losing things.”

That should have been the first red flag. But I didn’t see it, not then.

Eventually, he pulled them out from his pocket and tossed them at me like it was no big deal. Like I was being dramatic for even worrying.

But then it happened again.

And again.

Some days, he’d make a game of it. He’d ask what I’d done for him that day before he’d “help” me find them. “Come on, it’s not hard to be nice.” As if I hadn’t already spent the day walking on eggshells, making sure not to upset him.

Other times, he’d let me squirm for hours. I’d be in pain, struggling, trying to function while the tablets I needed were right there, hidden somewhere in the house. Somewhere he’d put them, just to see how long I’d last before breaking.

If I got desperate, if I begged, he’d smirk. Like he’d won. Like watching me in pain was some kind of twisted reward.

Then he’d finally hand them over. “See? All you had to do was ask nicely.”

Nicely. Like my pain was just an inconvenience to him.

Like I should be grateful.

It made me feel powerless.

Because he decided when I got relief.

And when I didn’t.

And worst of all? He knew I couldn’t fight him on it. I needed him—or at least, I needed the pills he controlled.

And that was exactly how he wanted it.

share this story:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email

More stories

UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

He didn’t even bother to ask. He just went ahead and sold our home, uprooting us from everything I knew. We left behind my friends and family, the people I relied on for support and love. It hurt so much.

He called it our “new life,” but it felt like he was tearing me away from everything that mattered. It left me feeling lost and alone, I had nobody else but him.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

He went away one weekend and he didn’t want me going out. So he took all my clothes. He took everything. He even emptied my underwear drawer.

I was left naked in the flat. I couldn’t even answer the door.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

I loved that bench. It became my sanctuary, a place where I could find peace away from the chaos. I couldn’t stay for too long though, he would notice I was gone and come looking for me.

Those precious moments were all I needed. A sense of calm that I could hold onto.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

He always threaten to tell immigration about me and send me back, even though I here legally. Just the idea of being reported would mess up my job and seeing my kids. He know this, but he don’t care. He just want to hurt me, to make me feel scared and powerless.

It feel like he got all the power, and I can’t do nothing.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

He would put a chair in the kitchen and make me sit on it. If I refused, he would push me down and tie me to it.

He would make me tell him all the things I had done wrong that day. Then he would hit me for them.

If I couldn’t think of anything, he would call me a liar and lock me in there until I thought of something. I had to think of something even though I knew he was going to hit me.

Read More
UNSEEN ECHOES - Objects of Domestic Abuse | Photography Project & Exhibition

He was a control freak. He made schedules for everything, even when I could eat or sleep. I was too scared to do anything differently.

I didn’t have the freedom to choose for myself.

Read More
Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Exhibitions. Project Updates. Stories. Plus More.