‘You and your son need to get out of town.’

She couldn’t. She had no money, no connections, no work outside a thirty-mile radius. Without her job and its measly pay, they wouldn’t survive a week.

‘What will he do?’

‘If you leave him and stay here in the village, he will make you pay for it. If you love your son, you’ll leave.’

A tear fell down Neena’s cheek. She wiped it away with a quivering hand.

She could hardly bring herself to believe it. The woman before her could have an ulterior motive, but the bruise made it all so real. Whatever she decided to do, she had to protect her son.

Neena looked around the room in case anyone was listening in. She had been such a fool. After her first attempt at loving a man, she had been torn from her family and never saw any of them again. Now, she had chosen yet another man who could destroy her life.

‘I’ve been such a fool, haven’t I? I truly believed he was…’

‘We all did, Neena. But I’m so glad that I’m finally able to give one of you the chance to get out before you’re in too deep.’

It was done. Her dream of a better life was over.

‘Thank you for telling me.’

‘I just wish I could do the same, for my daughter and me, but I’m not strong enough. Please do for your child what I can’t do for mine.’

Neena nodded and stood. Her legs were shaking. She eyed the door and hoped she would be able to weave between the tables without falling. She suddenly felt sick. The room was sweltering. She had to get out of there.

Neena rested a hand on the woman’s shoulder before heading for the door.

As soon as she was outside, she burst into tears.

She had to start all over again a second time.

NINE

Friday 24 November, 17:49

Neena stood before the family home as all of the memories came flooding back. She stared at the window to her old bedroom and wondered what it looked like now. Perhaps her sister didn’t use it any more either, and had a home of her own.

Drawn curtains covered the living room window, but the warm glow of the room lit up the fabric from the other side. She knew the house would smell like her mother’s cooking and tobacco smoke from her father’s pipe. She imagined the same furniture, kitchen and carpets. Ever since she left, she had thought of how the house used to be when she lived there, but so many things could have changed in her absence. One day they might even move, and she would never know where.