"My boyfriend and I were together for three years. The first two years were probably the best two years of my life, and I honestly thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with him. It wasn't until our third year, that he would out of nowhere call me names like a "slag", even though I was the most loyal girlfriend to him. He made me feel useless, and I struggled to do things on my own. It was worse when we would be out with friends - it was like he enjoyed making me feel so small and worthless in front of them. Although this wasn't all the time, I talked myself into believing it wasn't a serious problem and that no relationship was perfect. It wasn't until the first time he slapped me, after coming home one night from a bar. We'd had such a good night, but when we got back home, he said I had been flirting with his best mate. I couldn't believe it. I didn't even fancy his best mate, it was my boyfriend who I was in love with, but he wasn't listening to anything I told him. He looked at me this coldness in his eyes and out of nowhere just slapped me. After that, it would just get worse and worse, but I stayed with him because he would always apologise and I would always see a way past it. It wasn't until I fell pregnant with his baby, that I knew then I had to get out of my relationship. I didn't know how to handle the situation, but DVPM was able to offer me advice and seek professional help. I never thought I would get to where I am now, and I just feel so lucky to have been given another chance."