My name is Ruth and I come from Eastern Europe. I was forced into the sex industry after being tricked by a friend. I managed to escape from it with the help of a man, but was tricked again by him into being his own personal slave. I met somebody else during this time, even though I didn’t feel like I could trust him, I felt like I have to get out and he was my only escape. I am glad I did it as now we are happily married and he is the best thing that happened to me.
I remember like it was yesterday when I first got in contact with SHF. I found Sophie’s book at a petrol station, picked it up and finished it in 3 hours, crying all the way through. At the end of the book I saw all the contact details, but I was too scared and embarrassed to call, so D, the man who saved me from hell (now my husband) did it for me.
I can’t find the words to describe how good SHF has been with me, how much they’ve helped me, encouraged me, made me believe I am worthy and that I AM NOT ALONE! It has been a long journey to get where I am now. The whole “healing” process has been painful, but there were lots of happy moments and now I can finally say I am happy, very happy! From a scared, frightened girl I can say I became a secure woman.
It took me more than 2 years to realise that I can take decisions for myself, I can decide what to wear, where to go, I am a little bit more open in meeting new people without being afraid that they will know what I’ve been through and they will judge me. Recently, I became a manager and this is when I knew I’ve got my CONFIDENCE back!
I still get horrible nightmares and wake up screaming, but now I know that THEY CAN’T DO ANYTHING TO ME ANYMORE! I AM NOT AFRAID OF THEM! And you should think the same: “THEY” CAN’T TOUCH YOU! This note of hope is for you, so you can see that you are not alone and you can succeed. It does exist, life after all those horrible moments and it does exist happy endings, it’s not only a fairy tale. And you need to know that YOU ARE WORTHY and you are THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE and you ARE FREE and nobody can take that away from you, never!
HOPE IS THE LITTLE VOICE YOU HEAR WHISPER “MAYBE” WHEN THE ENTIRE WORLD IS SHOUTING “NO”!”
Narrative provided by The Sophie Hayes Foundation in their report ‘Becoming Hope: Stories, Reflections and Recommendations about Trafficking and Slavery Aftercare in the UK’.
