Sentences That Stay With You – Words That Cut Like Knives

Words Matter – Words That Cut Like Knives

There are words you hear and forget. And then there are words that stay.

Not because they were loud.
But because they told you exactly where you stood.

It’s time to name these words.

They felt like verbal abuse. They made me question my reality.

One moment, someone says the most cutting, horrific things imaginable. Their words land like knives, chipping away at your sense of safety.

Then days later, they act like nothing happened. Did I imagine it?

I didn’t imagine it. Instead, I documented 40 days of cutting words followed by silent treatment in my own home in 2025.

“I won’t stop living my life because you are sick.”
(whiskey in hand, not even looking at me)

An hour later: “I’m done.”

Two days later:

“I didn’t say that. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!”

When I said this felt like emotional abuse, he laughed.

“It’s not like I hit you.”

“You’re not a wife. You are more like a roommate.”
“You’ll go where I say we go.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I’m never going to see it your way.”
“Fine then. I won’t do groceries or meals or get food.”
“If I’m so bad, why do you stay?”
“I think you have nowhere else to go.”

Words Matter – Words That Cut Like Knives

How can someone call you their best friend and still treat you like you don’t matter?

That’s the question I stopped trying to answer.

When you’re sick and disabled, it cuts even deeper. You’re already fighting to hold onto your self-worth, and then you hear words meant to break you. They reinforce the doubts you’re already fighting.

It was like I wasn’t wanted there. Like my presence was an inconvenience. Like I was being pushed to leave without anyone having the courage to say it plainly.

I know my worth.

“If you don’t like it, you can leave.”

So I did.

In my wheelchair.
With my cats and my bags.
And my head high.

I traveled 24 hours from Taiwan to Canada. I left 23 years of my life behind. It was a total system collapse.

But I didn’t lose my life.
I walked out of the life that was breaking me.

He forgot who he married.
I didn’t forget who I was.

Author’s Note

This is part of an ongoing series called Truth Day, where I name what happened to me in Taiwan.

A response I received was dismissive and mocking.

Here is the truth:
“People who are part of a system that causes harm do not get to define or dismiss that harm.”

I know what happened.
It got much worse last year.
I also know that medical professionals and people in my building saw it and heard it.

If this makes people uncomfortable, so be it. I will not be silent.

Reading Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft was the moment I recognized the patterns for what they were. I’ve linked to a free online copy so it can be read privately if needed. I remember being afraid of being seen reading it.

Research from Women’s Aid shows that words can be used to undermine and destabilize, especially where there is vulnerability.

Parts of this reflect my experience.

Source: Women’s Aid