Does the landlord have to honor her verbal agreement or does she have complete control over us because we signed year leases?

I live in Illinois. When I went to rent my apartment, I asked if they had a 9 month lease. They said they did not but I could sign a year lease and I could move out after 9 months with a fee. The time has come for me to move out and my landlord claims she doesn't remember that conversation. There are other people that live near me that are encountering the same problem.