Josephina’s Story

Early one morning, I woke up gasping for air. A plastic bag was covering my face and my husband was kneeling on my stomach. He said both my baby and I would die. I suffered a miscarriage at the hospital later that day.

Adam proposed to me on Christmas Day. I was very happy. To celebrate, we went home and cooked together. I had liked Adam from the start—he enjoyed cooking my native Caribbean food with me, doing activities outdoors, and going out to the movies. Adam and I dated for several months, and eventually moved into the same apartment together. During this time, I met his family and friends and enjoyed getting to know Adam better through them.

Everything changed after the wedding. Adam became jealous, suspicious of me, and always criticized everything I did or said. He beat me, usually trying to choke me. One day, he beat me in the morning and then demanded that I cook for him all afternoon. I was dizzy, so I asked him if I could rest. Before answering, he came up behind me and slammed my head into the closet door. I fell down, helpless and in pain. Two hours later, I crawled out to find myself alone in the apartment. A friend took me to the emergency room.

The first time I called the police, my husband had punched me and elbowed me around the throat because we had an argument about our finances. When the police arrived, I explained what happened and my husband was arrested. Before the trial, my husband had his family members call me repeatedly to warn me not to testify and to intimidate me with threats and profanity. Then, at the courthouse, my husband’s attorney also dissuaded me from testifying. I felt scared that my husband, his family, or his attorney might retaliate against me. I dropped the charges.

The abuse reached the cruelest point while I was pregnant. My husband suggested that the baby was not his, even though he knew I would not and could not cheat on him. He predicted I would be an awful mother. One night he kicked me out of our bedroom so I slept on the couch. Early in the morning, I woke up gasping for air. A bag was around my face and my husband was kneeling on my stomach. He said both my baby and I would die. I suffered a miscarriage at the hospital later that day.

The abuse never stopped. I continued to endure his physical and verbal attacks. Then I got in a severe car accident. I was admitted to the hospital for four days with fractures, contusions, and lacerations. My husband refused to allow my sister to stay with us to help me recover. When I got home from the hospital, with blood still in my hair, Adam put me in the bath and turned on the scalding hot water. My arms were still bandaged and in slings. I was immobile. He said, “However you get out, it’s up to you.” I used my legs to turn off the water, but I was not quick enough to prevent the water from leaving burns and causing my whole body to throb in pain.

Around that time, I decided to leave my husband. Adam continued to threaten and stalk me after I left our apartment. I changed all my personal information and moved so he could not find me. With the help of the Tahirih Justice Center, I completed a Battered Spouse Waiver and am now a lawful permanent resident. I enjoy gardening and cooking. I hope to have a family one day.