In late autumn 2015, I woke up shivering at two in the morning and saw the first frost of winter sparkling on the bonnet of my car. It was a sight I found terrifying. I was homeless, sleeping in my car and, instead of looking forward to Christmas like everyone else, my focus was on staying alive in the cold to come. It was like staring down a tunnel with no light at the end.
Rewind a year from that night and no one would have believed I'd end up in such desperate straits. Back then, I was living with my husband and two sons, then 17 and 15, in a beautiful part of Cornwall. Home was a detached four-bedroom house with two cars on the driveway. And as Christmas approached, you would have found me wrapping gifts and decorating the tree, like any other mum. From the outside, we looked like a perfect family, but behind closed doors it was a different story.
My marriage had been desperately unhappy for years, and my mental health was in tatters. I yearned to leave but had nowhere to go. My family was miles away, in Bristol, and we were no longer close. Besides, I needed to stay local because my job, in a department store, was my only independent source of income.
One day in March 2015, after yet another blazing row, I knew I had to leave. I walked out with just my phone, car keys, the clothes on my back and no plan other than a vague idea of sorting somewhere to live, with room for my kids. My husband hated me socialising so I had no friends - the only people I could call on were work colleagues. They were incredibly kind, and that night I crashed on someone's sofa. After that, I started sleeping in the car. For the first week or so, I had no money - I had to rely on others to feed me or go hungry. My salary was paid into a joint account, which I couldn't access. Luckily, I remembered I had a dormant account, and I was able to request a card from my bank.
LEFT WITH NOTHING
Denne historien er fra December 04, 2023-utgaven av WOMAN'S OWN.
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Denne historien er fra December 04, 2023-utgaven av WOMAN'S OWN.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?