**Diary Entry 12th June**
The day my husband threw me out was the lowest point of my life. I never imagined that years later, Id see it as the best thing that ever happened to me.
I married him for love, blind to the trials ahead. After our daughter was born, I gained weightnearly three stoneand from that moment, everything changed.
He mocked me, calling me a «cow» and a «pig,» as if I werent a woman anymore. He constantly compared me to his friends’ wives, claiming they were perfect while Id let myself go. His words cut deep. Then I discovered his young mistress. He didnt even bother hiding hertaking her calls in front of me, texting her while our daughter and I became invisible.
I cried myself to sleep, but there was no one to turn to. An orphan with no family, my friends had drifted away after the wedding. He grew bolder, even raising his hand to me. Our daughters nighttime crying set him offhed shout, demanding I silence her, threatening to throw us out.
Ill never forget that evening. He came home from work and told me to leave. It was nearly midnight, snowing outside. With just one bag and my daughter in my arms, I stood in the driveway, lost. He wouldnt even let me pack. As I stood there, a taxi pulled up, and out stepped his mistresssuitcase in handmarching into *our* home. All I had were a few crumpled banknotes in my pocket.
My only hope was the hospital where Id once worked. By luck, a nurse I knew was on duty. She let us stay the night.
The next morning, I pawned everythingmy mothers gold cross, the earrings hed given me before the wedding, even my ring. I found an ad from an elderly woman, Granny Margaret, renting a room on the outskirts of London. She became family. With her watching my daughter, I took whatever work I couldpacking meat in a factory by day, scrubbing stairwells at night. Then I met a woman whose homes I cleaned. She offered me a proper job as an administrator in her firm, decent wages and all. It was her who encouraged me to study, and in time, I became a solicitor.
Now my daughters at university. Weve a three-bed flat in Chelsea, a car, holidays abroad twice a year. My law practice thrives, and Im grateful my husband cast me outId never have achieved half this otherwise.
Recently, we looked at land near Surrey to build a holiday home. Imagine my shock when the door opened to my ex-husband, his mistressnow stouthovering behind him. I wanted to unleash every bitter word, but I just stared. There he was, bloated with drink and debt, selling their house to stay afloat. We stood in silence before I called my daughter and drove away.
Granny Margarets still part of our liveswe visit often, bring gifts, help where we can. Ill never forget her kindness when I had nothing. And Katherine, my old employer? She gave me the chance to believe in myself. Funny how life workssometimes the worst moments set you free.
