LONGUEUIL – For nearly three years, Tanya St-Arnauld has been free of the man who doused her with acid, but that will all change when her ex-boyfriend is released from prison.
“To have him locked up, I could go about my business and, you know, live my day,” she said.
“Even though there are some stress factors, it’s not the same as knowing he’s out there.”
Last December, Nikolas Stefanatos was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for throwing cleaning acid in St-Arnauld’s face.
READ MORE: Quebec man receives 57-month sentence for acid attack on girlfriend
She suffered third degree burns to 20 per cent of her body – mostly on her head and chest.
Stefanatos has already served part of his sentence and is being released on Thursday.
St-Arnauld, 32, dreads the thought of coming face to face with the man who hurt her.
READ MORE: Quebec man pleads guilty to acid attack on girlfriend
“I have to deal with the fact that now it’s a probability that we will come face to face and meet and see each other,” she told Global News.
“That’s not something I’m looking forward to, obviously.”
Almost three and a half years after the attack, St-Arnauld lives with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I see a psychologist once a week and she’s helping me get through that and hopefully get through all the symptoms if possible,” St-Arnauld said.
St-Arnauld’s current boyfriend, Marc André Sauvé, said he’s frustrated by the short sentence, but is confident he and his family will get through this difficult time.
READ MORE: Judge rules man charged in acid attack tried in Longueuil
“We’ll make it together and we’ll be fine,” he said.
Going forward, St-Arnauld is focusing on her son, her health and putting the incident behind her.
“I think I’ve been through the worst,” she said.
“I think it should be uphill from now and that’s what I pray for.”
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