Fear, anger and courage have helped one Bermudian woman overcome a horrendous attack that left her physically and emotionally scarred.

Rushana Tannock was attacked three months ago but remains positive, accepting the changes and viewing it as a fresh start.

The 24-year-old's assailant, Eli Hill, who pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and is awaiting sentencing, slashed her in the face on a rainy October evening.

Hill's attack has forever left permanent scars across her mouth and the image of his face etched in her mind.

But seeing the image of her own face in the mirror is what haunts Ms Tannock the most.

"Waking up every morning and looking in the mirror and touching my scars I think this is my face. It's a constant reminder everyday," she told . "It can rob you of your self worth."

The strange looks and the pain around her mouth make her question why Hill, someone she knew while growing up in Warwick, would lash out and attack her without provocation.

"What would be the purpose to stand in the road and grip someone," she said, still mystified after three months. "When the pain starts setting in I start thinking 'this stupid boy, this idiot, what has he done to me?'."

Ms Tannock said she is happy that Pusine Judge Charles-Etta Simmons requested social inquiry reports for Hill and she hopes he will get the help he needs but it still doesn't help her forget.

"Actually seeing him in court got me really mad. He said sorry but only because he had to. Seeing him on TV, he's unbelievable ? sticking up his middle finger and spitting. He acts like he's innocent but he's done dirt. The least he could do is hang his head."

Just after 7 p.m. on October 30, she was on her way home from the Bank of Butterfield where she works as an international money clerk. She was hungry and excited to arrive at her Somerset home to eat dinner prepared by her mother.

It was raining and when she reached Longford Hill in Warwick she was forced to slow down due to a puddle in the road. At that point she noticed a man walking diagonally in the road and within a split second he had hit her in the face and yanked her off her motorcycle.

"I just thought he was punching me and after I got up I wanted to run after him but I smelled blood. I couldn't see the blood but I could smell it and I just stood there saying 'Oh my God, Oh my God'," she said cupping a hand over her mouth. I couldn't believe that someone had hit me in my own neighbourhood where I grew up. That's why I wanted to chase him down, I just couldn't believe it."

A couple who witnessed the attack tried to stop her assailant but were unsuccessful. They did, however, get a good description of the man enabling Police to apprehend him. "I am definitely grateful to those people. When I saw the woman she looked just like an angel, I swear, sometimes you see people who look certain ways and she looked just like an angel. I was blown away at how fast the Police were. The Police have been so great and I commend their work."

Ms Tannock spent a week in the hospital during which she was taken to Police Headquarters to identify her attacker. That day at the lineup was the hardest day since the attack.

"That's when I broke down. That was just crazy all by itself. Out of all the pain that was the hardest day."

Although a few split seconds during which her assailant yanked her off her motorcycle have changed her life emotionally and physically, forever, she continues to be optimistic.

"I refuse to give in," she said. "Life has its ups and downs but I'm trying to stick with the good stuff," she added with a smile.

"I have sharp pains in my mouth and I have a hard time smiling. I am such a happy person and I love to smile but opening my mouth now is hard," she said. "I'm still happy now but it's hard."

She also faces many challenges and new fears but she is grateful she is still alive. "I still have the helmet at home. They gave it back to me and the strap has been completely cut right across. I'm not taking that for granted because he slashed my neck."

Letting fear consume her life is not an option, she said, but certain everyday activities like riding her bike, meeting strangers and walking down the street have noticeably changed.

"I was sitting in my car one night and I ended up having to lock myself in because the slightest little thing makes me jump. I think a leaf blew past the car and I jumped," she said "What's more terrifying for me is that it happened on my bike. I love being on my bike. "But I also find my self looking at people a lot more and really observing them ? just in case."

She has yet to return to work but is hopeful that by February she will at least make it through a half day. She continues to try and keep a smile on her face even on the most difficult days.

"A lot of people see me and think I'm doing fine and I start to wonder if I am okay. But I know that I went through this and I'm going to take my time to heal.

"It's definitely life changing, and sometimes I forget, but as soon as people look at me strange it's like 'bam' and it all comes back to me."

She has been able to keep her spirits high through the support of her family and she hopes telling her story will give someone the much-needed strength to continue. "There are a lot of people out there who care. But there is a lot of craziness in the world because everyone wants to be rough and tough.

"Life is a lot of pressure and stressful but I guess it's what's been instilled in you. My mom and dad have instilled in me to be positive."