For the first time in my life, I actually enjoyed the silence and the freedom that being alone brought. I knew I had to absorb as much peace as I could before returning ‘home’ and facing the bedlam and reality that was indeed my life. My partner had yet to meet his beautiful daughter, I wasn’t sure how he would react. He had been ‘different’ shall we say during my whole pregnancy.

He had left me alone for a start which was not like him at all. By stating ‘alone’ what I mean is, the physical violence I had grown accustomed to daily had stopped and instead in its place was more emotional and mental abuse. Prior to giving birth to my daughter, he had drained me physically and emotionally. I was relieved when my waters finally broke because it meant I could get away from him without