Thrown out by my husbandyears later, I realised it was the best thing that could have happened.
When he shoved me onto the street, I didnt want to live. Only after time passed did I understand it was the greatest gift life could have given me.
I married for love, never imagining the trials ahead. Seventeen stone heavier after giving birth to our daughter, I became unrecognisableeven to myself.
He tormented me, calling me a «cow» and a «pig,» refusing to see me as a woman. Hed point to his friends wives, sneering that they were flawless while Id turned into some kind of beast.
The words cut deep. Then came the young mistress he no longer bothered to hide. Open phone calls, messages, while my daughter and I faded into the background.
I wept at night with no one to confide inan orphan, no family, friends long gone after the wedding. He grew bold, raising his hands when our daughters cries annoyed him. «Shut her up,» hed snarl, threatening to toss us out.
Ill never forget that night. He stormed in from work and ordered me to leave. Snow fell heavy outside. With one bag and my child in my arms, I stood in the courtyard, lost. He wouldnt even let me pack. As I stood frozen, a taxi pulled uphis mistress, suitcase in hand, stepping into our home. All I had was a few crumpled banknotes in my pocket.
The only place left was the hospital where Id once worked. Luck was with mea nurse I knew was on duty. She let us stay the night.
By morning, Id sold the only things I had left: a gold cross from my mother, the earrings hed given me before the wedding, and my ring. I found an ad from an elderly woman, Granny Mabel, renting a room on the citys edge. She became family. With her watching my daughter, I found workpacking meat by day, scrubbing stairwells by night. Later, a woman whose house I cleaned offered me a proper job as an office manager. It was her who pushed me to study, to become a solicitor.
Now my daughters at university. Weve a three-bed flat in London, a car, holidays abroad. My firm thrives. And Im gratefulhad he not thrown me out, Id never have climbed this high.
Recently, we looked at land outside the city to build a holiday home. Imagine my shock when the door swung open to reveal my exdrunk, paunchy, his mistress now heavy-set behind him. They were selling, drowning in debt. I couldve said everything burning inside mebut I just stared. Silence. Then I called my daughter, and we left.
Granny Mabels still part of our lives. We visit, bring gifts, help where we can. Ill never forget her hand when I needed it most. Nor Margaret, the woman who gave me the chance to believeand rise.
