The arguments continued, however, and home life was shrouded in constant tension and fear. I started having panic attacks, unable to cope with the tumultuous atmosphere and threat of Leo’s moods. I had to rely on tranquilisers, just to get through the day.

Gitelle and I were subservient to Leo, too afraid to dare questioning anything he said or say no to anything he asked. He attacked my family, having tried to isolate me from them since early in our marriage. I found myself unable to protect them, cowering at the thought of standing up to Leo in order to do so.

Gitelle was stronger than me, however, and as she grew older gained enough confidence to protect me and our family. She would defend me at all costs, often sacrificing her own happiness and relationship with her father. More often than not, he completely ignored her. But when she begged him to stop the arguments with my family, he cut her out of his world. He didn’t speak to her for a month, purely because she had asked him to make amends with them.

Gitelle was so brave.