When Heather married her husband she thought he was "easygoing". Years later, he did the unthinkable.

Content warning: This story includes graphic depictions of domestic violence and sexual assault that may be distressing to some readers.

In 2012, Heather Cornelius exchanged vows with a man she believed would be her lifelong partner. At the time, he represented safety and security — someone who would stand by her side through life's challenges.

But years later, the man who had promised to love and protect her would commit an act of violence so severe it would leave her permanently injured.

In the beginning, Heather thought her husband — who she has not named — was "easygoing and nurturing". However, not everyone agreed.

"My family didn't like him, my sisters didn't like him," Heather told People. "But for almost 10 years, I thought it was a good marriage."

For nearly a decade, Heather's husband didn't display any outward signs of physical violence. But control can manifest in subtle ways: jealousy, threatening to divorce her and take her children away, isolation from friends and family, monitoring movements, managing finances, and gradually eroding a partner's sense of independence.

Watch Heather's TikTok video about her experience. Article continues after video.

Almost 10 years into their marriage, Heather's husband's behaviour began to escalate. He started sexually assaulting Heather, twice even choking her unconscious during intercourse. But when Heather attempted to leave, she realised it was nearly impossible.

"He had tracking apps on my phone, he could track my car via the GPS. I had no money, I had no one to call... I was in a helpless state. He started to call me and say, 'I want you to come home.' I told him no," Heather recalled.

Eventually, he tracked her down and apologised, trying to convince her to come home. Isolated and fearful of losing access to her children, Heather returned home with her husband.

Then the unthinkable happened. When they arrived home, he instructed her to lie on the floor.

"So I did what he said. When I looked up, I saw that he had blue gloves on and a white container. I tried to sit up, he pushed me back down. And he started pouring something in my right eye," Heather said, recalling the indescribable pain she felt as he rubbed the liquid into her face.

"I was begging for him to stop and screaming," she remembered. "I don't know how I made it through. I swear, God allowed me to leave my body for a moment to survive. He told me if I wasn't quiet, he was going to kill me. So I went quiet, and then he started pouring it in my left eye. And then, he was done."

Image: TikTok/heathercornelius19

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Heather's husband told her to go into the kitchen and pretend that she had accidentally injured herself with oven cleaner. He left the room, and Heather followed his instructions, calling out for help from the kitchen.

Heather's daughter came running, and then Heather's husband entered the kitchen, also.

"He had left the room at that point so he came running, too," Heather said. "He led me into the shower and I let the cold water hit my face. I didn't know at that point if anything was even left of my eye."

The chemical attack left her temporarily blinded and in excruciating pain — both physical and emotional. And still then, her husband blamed her for his actions.

"He took me to the hospital and, as we were getting out, he said 'You know you did this to yourself, right?'" Heather shared.

The chemical attack had "melted" Heather's eyelids and left permanent damage. She underwent multiple surgeries and ultimately lost the use of one eye. Then, Heather returned home with her husband, still feeling the weight of his control, even then.

Then, in May 2023, there came a knock at the door. Police confronted Heather's husband, while members from Heather's military command arrived to take her in for questioning. At the same time, Children's Protective Services removed her children for their safety.

What triggered this intervention? A draft email Heather had written to her mother months earlier had been discovered in her work account — the only account her husband couldn't access. In it, she had expressed fear for herself and her children.

Heather was taken to Walter Reed Medical Centre for psychiatric evaluation. Despite suffering horrific abuse, she remained in deep denial about her situation. For weeks, Heather struggled to accept the reality of her abuse, remaining uncooperative with those trying to help her. While the authorities worked to build a case against her husband, Heather continued to resist facing the truth of her situation.

It was a psychologist's blunt warning that finally broke through: "If you go home — it might not be tomorrow, it might not be any time soon — he's going to kill you, and your kids need you."

@heathercornelius19

Part two. #domesticabuseawareness #domesticviolenceawareness #domesticviolencesurvivor #godisgood #domesticviolenceawarenessmonth #purposetothepain

♬ original sound - Heather

This harsh reality check finally cracked her denial. After extensive trauma treatment for PTSD, Heather was reunited with her children in January 2024. Her husband had relocated to Alaska as authorities continued building their case against him.

Later that year, Heather learnt that her husband had died. While processing mixed emotions about his death, she found that it allowed her to reconnect with people she'd lost touch with during her isolation.

Today, Heather has found her voice as an advocate for domestic violence awareness. She has gone viral on TikTok sharing her story, raising awareness about the insidious nature of domestic abuse and its devastating consequences.

Her experience serves as a powerful reminder that domestic violence often escalates gradually, with controlling behaviours potentially leading to physical violence years into a relationship.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Mamamia is a charity partner of RizeUp Australia, a national organisation that helps women, children and families move on after the devastation of domestic and family violence. Their mission is to deliver life-changing and practical support to these families when they need it most. If you would like to support their mission you can donate here.

Feature Image: TikTok/heathercornelius19.