They took me to a nice house and treated me well. In the first week they gave me a tour of London. I was very happy. After a week I asked when I could start my studying. They said: “You didn’t come here for studying. We spent a lot of money on your travel to UK.” They said I have to work and give them the money back. They said I have to do prostitution. I was crying, I said, I can’t do that. I said I can do any other job to pay the money back. They were beating me and treating me very bad. The next day they took me to a flat, to work there. An Englishwoman provided me with clothes, shoes, cosmetics.
The first client attended the place. I was told to go with him. I worked all day, maybe 12 hours. In the evening, someone came to collect me from the flat. She gave me an envelope with money and a list of clients and the services I gave. After that they took me to another flat. There were many girls from different countries, all Eastern European. We were sleeping on the floor, covered with coats. I was working seven days a week. Every day a different place. Sometimes there were two or three girls, sometimes eight or ten. We were not allowed to speak to each other. Some clients were English, some were Asian.
I was thinking I was in London but one time a client asked me how I liked a different city. I thought, am I in this place? I was forced to pretend I’m fine and like the job, otherwise I’d be beaten. I couldn’t keep my money, not even tips, which were paid to me by clients. I was searched after every job. I was beaten on many occasions, very badly, kicked and punched.
They were saying I’m illegal and they could kill me because I didn’t exist here. They said if the police checked me they would put me in prison for two years. They said I have to pay the money back. They said I’m their property, I will be with them for the rest of my life—I’m not human, just something that can be bought. I was going crazy thinking my father wanted this.
I think I’ve lost my country and I can’t go back. It’s still affecting my life but I’m trying to make it work.
Narrative as told to Joan Smith.
