Hayley

Hayley by Anna-Lea Burns

1

"I don't like him." Mum blurted out as soon as he left the house. "He's not
right for you."
I sit with her at the kitchen table; she took hold of her glass of wine in her small hand and starred at the glass as it reflected in the light. I watched her screw up her thin lips in dissapproval.
I stayed quiet and looked away from mum and at the table, I knew mum would be like this, I knew she wouldn't like Daniel, she didn't know him so why would she want to judge him the way she is doing? Daniel and I had been seeing eachother for a month, he's lovely and buy me chocolates and flowers, he tells me how beautiful I am and how he's glad we have found each other. Daniel had been down to meet mum, I thought they would have got on ok but whilst Daniel made the efforts my mum didn't, she made it known that she didn't like him which was purely embarrassing for me.
"He's sly." Mum spat. "His eyes give him away."
I let out a heavy sigh. "Mum if you haven't got anything to say then don't say anything at all."
She ignores me. "Even Jackie agrees with me."
Jackie's a friend of my mum's, she employed me to work in her shop after I dropped out of college, I had only been working in her shop for a week when Daniel started coming in, we got on fine and started talking and exchanged numbers, a few days later we took our friendship further and decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend.
"Are you with Daniel because he as got a child?"
"No!" I barked. "Absolutely not!"
"Have you met his child?"
"Yes I have met her."
"What about her mother? Is she around?"
"No she's dead." I stand from the table. "I am going for a shower, it's getting late."
Mum places her glass carefully on the table and picks up her self-help book. Dad left when I was little after mum threw him out for having an affair with her friend, I don't see anything of him any more, but I do sometimes miss him. At the weekend mum and Jackie go out into town to try and find Mr.Right, they read the same self-help books and I know Jackie will also be on, 'How to Talk to a Man - Ten Amazing Steps'. I find it stupid.
I sat in my room before I had a shower and thought about Daniel and his daughter Hayley, I met her last week and I thought she was lovely. Daniel invited me round for tea at his house, I had never been to his house before which is small inside, the stairs were facing you as soon as you came in through the front door, the front room was on the left and then the kitchen. We spent time together at the pictures or some where quiet and tranquil like a country park so it was different being invited to his house, Hayley never came with us, he told me she was grown up enough to be left in the house on her own. It wasn't my place to say anything but I did dissagree with it and would always feel guilty incase anything would happen to her whilst I was with her dad.
Daniel cooked tea that night, it was nothing romantic just chips and beans, I wanted the night to go smooth, and I didn't want Hayley to think I was a threat to her. I wasn't here to take the place of her mother and I never would. Daniel called upstairs to Hayley when I arrived, she was in her room listening to some music and was soon downstairs.
I was incredibly nervous about meeting her and I didn't want to blow my chance at all of her liking me. "Hi." I smiled, "Arn't you beautiful?" she gave me a little smile.
I couldn't take my eyes of her, she was so pretty, she had long black eye lashes, deep blue eyes, a lovely round face, and her long black hair just fell above her shoulders. I never imagined her looking as pretty as she did. Hayley was seven and dressed in a pink t-shirt and jeans, she was a bit skinny but she was still a lovley girl.
I used my knife and fork to eat my tea even though I wanted to eat my chips with my fingers, mum never allowed me to do that, she said it was bad manners but when I went to the chippy with Summer, a friend of mine, I would eat with my fingers on the way home because I enjoyed it more. Daniel used his cutlery whilst Hayley eaten her food with her fingers, she scoffed it as if she had never been fed before, I couldn't look at her but I could see her in the corner of my eye and she was putting me off. I lowered my knife and fork and smiled stupidly.
"Have you had enough?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, I had a really big lunch. I am sorry about leaving it."
"Can I eat it please?" Hayley asked.
"Of course you can." I pushed the empty plate in front of her and moved the empty one in front of me. "When you have eaten that would you like to go to the park?" I said in my most excited voice.
"Not tonight." Daniel said. "It's a school night."
"Ok then." I said still smiling like an idiot. "What would you like to do after tea Hayley?"
"Draw." she raised her vacant eyes to mine before she bitten into the chip she held in between her fingers. "I will learn you how to draw a house."
"Great! I can't draw so very good so I hope you will beable to teach me."
Hayley's grin grew wider. "I only draw houses so I will learn you."


2

I have never been a morning person, I hate waking up in a morning espically to my mum's voice, she screeches my name that loud
I am not surprised she hasn't passed out yet, her voice is enough to deafen your ears, during the world war I would put a bet on it that my mum's voice would have been used as a siren.
"SAMANTHA!!" I heard her screech again. "You're going to be late for work! It's now one minute past eight!"
I climbed out of bed and stood on the same spot, I didn't want to move and my eyes fell back to my comfy bed. My eyes were stinging to close, I wanted another five minutes that was all. I smiled to myself imagining my body wrapped around my warm duvet, my head snuggled into my soft pillow...
My bedroom door flew open, "Come on Samantha get yourself ready."
"I am doing." I snap.
"Don't go back to sleep." She warned. "I am going in the office now to get some work done."
"Right." I mumble scratching my head and yawning. "See you later."
Mum worked from home as a proofreader, her office fell in the small front bedroom where she did her work. I hadn't been in it for ages, she banned me from going into her office since she caught me using her PC to go on chatlines.

At dinnertime I left work to pick up a pasty from Hampson's when my mobile began to ring, I pulled it out from my pocket and answered it as I got into the queue.
"Sam, I am not with Tom anymore." Summer reavealed. "He's gay, he told me last night."
"What?" I gasped.
"He's gay." she squealed. "I got into bed last night and I made the first move on him, he responded and started kissing me and then he suddenly stopped. He jumped out of bed telling me he couldn't do it. I asked him what he meant, I struggled to understand what the problem was." She sobbed. "I thought at first the problem was with me or because he couldn't get it up, but he's never had an erection problem before."
I give a brief smile to the women who were stood next to me; I slowly edged my way out of the queue and outside, and listened to Summer carry on. "I told him if he didn't feel up to it that it didn't matter but he told me that he was gay, I got dressed and walked out. I am back at my mum and dad's house."
"Do they know?"
"I haven't told them. I thought he might have phoned but he hasn't."
I did really want to speak with her but when I seen Daniel walking over I wanted to end the phone call, Daniel had never come to see me at dinnertime before so I hoped whilst I said goodbye to Summer on the phone everything was fine with him.
"After work will you come round to mine? We can go out and do a bit of retail therapy."
I told her that I would and ended the call and slipped my mobile back into my pocket. I give him a hug but he pulled away. "What's wrong?"
"Who was that?"
"Summer." I tell him. "What's wrong? Why arn't you in work?"
"It's dinnertime."
"What's wrong?"
"I have just bumped into your mum on the way to coming to see you and she started yelling at me, telling me that I need to end our relationship and that I am twenty nine and should have more sense in seeing a seventeen year old." he lets out a small sigh. "I told her that I loved you and that I would never rush you into anything, but she didn't listen to me."
I stay quiet, I was furious how could my mum do that to me? Why was she treating me like a child? I want to live my life for myself and not my mother, all I wanted was her support not her ignorance. "I am sorry about her."
He gently touches the side of my face. "It's not your fault. Your mum is only trying to protect you."
"I don't need to her to protect me."
A smile slips across his face. "Of course you do."
"I don't." I growl.
"If you want to stay with me for a few days then you're welcomed to, just until things have calm down with your mum. It's up to you."
"I will have to let you know later..."
"No, you will have to tell me now, so I can tell Hayley when I pick her up from school."
"Right, I will stay with you for the night just make sure you let Hayley know and see if she's all right with it."
"Hayley should be fine." he removes his hand away from my face.
"Make sure you do. I still need to go home later to pick a few clothes up later."
"I will tell you what, once I have spoken to her I will pick you up a few clothes from in town how's that?"
I smile. "That will be great."

Daniel was waiting for me outside work when I finished at four; I sat in the back of his ford fiesta and smiled to Hayley. "How was school?"
"Good." she replied.
I clicked my seat belt on and on the way to his house we had a laugh and joke, I wanted Hayley to join in with us but she didn't, she just starred out of the window and didn't once force a smile on her face, I got the impression straight away that she didn't want my company.

I sat with Daniel on the sofa with a cup of tea in my hand, it would have been such a perfect moment if Hayley came and sat with us, or if I was at home. I made my mind up earlier that i had to sort things out with my mum and truthfully I should be at home now sorting everything out, I am missing her. It's nearley tea time and usually me and my mum would be sat around the kitchen table having our tea, I would tell her about my day and she'd moan about how the PC had crashed on her.
Hayley had Westlife on upstairs, I could hear the song vaguley but couldn't make out what they were singing as it sounded as if they were mumbling to a few beats, she had been upstairs since we came back.
Daniel suddenly climbed to his feet and picked up two carrier bags by the door, he pulled out a old knitted jumper, a long pleated white skirt, and a pack of knickers, as soon as I seen the knickers I realized that they wasn't his grans and was actually for me. "I hope you like them." I hoped he was joking. "Don't worry about the money I don't want you to pay me back for these."
I force a smile. "There lovely. Thank you." And then I suddenley remembered Summer. "Shit."
"What's wrong?"
"I was supposed to go to Summer's house, we arranged to go clothes shopping togther."
"It's a bit late now, the shops will be shut. It's almost five." He points out. "Why don't you phone her and tell her you will make it tomorrow."
I pull my phone out of my pocket and called her mobile, it rang for ages and then went onto her voice mail, I called her again and again, but the same thing happened, on the fourth attempt her mobile was switched off. "She's turned her phone off."
"Why would she do that?"
I had no idea why. I was pissed off, I thought I had done something wrong to her I even thought back to the converstaion we had on the phone at dinnertime to try and recall anything I might have said that would have upset her. We had been friends since High School; she had never done anything like this to me before so I couldn't understand why she had now. Fine if she wants to be childish then I will turn my phone off too, mum hasn't once phoned me, I thought she would have been worried about me but I am wrong.
"Don't worry about it." Daniel gives me a soft kiss on my forehead. "Will you check on Hayley for me?"
I wanted to have a chat with her any way so I told him that I would see what she was doing. I left the front room and approached her in her bedroom, she was sat at the end of her bed; my heart melted she looked so sad. I turned her CD player down; Westlife was singing their heart out to Unbreakable. I picked the case up and turned it to the songs, I had the CD at home, Unbreakable- The Greatest Hits, I loved the songs on it too.
I placed the case down on her bedside cabinet. "Isn't this a little old for you?"
"I like it." she looks at me with her blue vacant eyes. "Do you think I am weird?"
"No of course I don't.' I sit besides her on her bed. "If you like it then listen to it."
"I always do."
"It's ok to listen to songs that you like. Their album came out last year, I left school last year too."
"Did you?" her smile grew wide.
I nod my head. "We are in two thousand and three now so how old will that album be?"
"Two?"
I told myself to shut up and to get on with talking to her instead of teaching her maths, which I wasn't very good at myself.
"Is it two?" she asked again.
"It's actually a year old but that doesn't matter right now. What matters to me is how you feel about me staying here with you and your dad. Do you want me to stay here for the night?"
She nods her head.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Won't your mummy miss you?"
"I don't know. I won't be here forever and I will have to see my mum again won't I? So are you ok with me being here?"
"Yes." she hesertates. "I miss my mummy."
I place my arm around her. "I am sure you do."
"Daddy said she died because she had too much drugs."
I didn't know what to say to her, I knew her mum died when she was five of a drug overdose but I didn't really want Hayley to talk to me incase I said something wrong that might have upset her, so I just listened to her instead whilst Westlife sang Unbreakable in the background.

After Daniel put Hayley to bed we settled downstairs together on the sofa and an old episode of The Bill came on TV. If I was at home now I would be watching Sponge Bob Square Pants and mum would be sat reading her self-help book in the front room with me. "I don't know why you watch this at all." she would moan. "It's stupid."
"Do you want me to tell you what makes a good relationship?" Daniel asks me. "It's when you tell your partner one of your deepest secrets or something personal to you. That's what makes the bond between two partners strong and adds trust and love between each other."
For a moment I thought he was going to tell me he was gay so I told him if he had anything to tell me he should go first.
He takes a breath I prepare myself. "No I don't." His eyes meet mine, "Do you have anything to tell me?" He looks away, "Your mum mentioned to me earlier that you had lost your child."
My blood ran cold as so did the rest of my body, I was shocked to how he could easiley come out with it the way he did, it wasn't something I could talk about, he had a child so he should have understood. Then my anger fixed to my mum, how fucking dare she tell him, that was for me to decide not her, wait until I see her tomorrow.
"Is it true?"
I nod my head. "Yes."
"How come you never told me?"
"It's not something I like speaking about."
"But I am your boyfriend." He stresses as if I didn't know. "It help's to talk and I want you to talk to me."
"She got run over." I mumble.
He stroked my hand, "That's a good start."
I stay quiet. I did all the crying when she died and i can't cry no more even though I want to, I feel guilty for not crying for her it's as if my tears are locked away and I have lost the key to unlock them out.
"She died when she was three, is that right?"
I nod my head.
"And who was watching her when she got killed?"
"I was."
"What happened?"
"I took my eyes of her for a second and she ran off, I tried my hardest to grab her, I thought I could have saved my little girl, I thought if I tried as hard as I could I would get her but I didn't get to her in time."
"What did it feel like?"
"What?" I yell. "What do you mean what did it feel like?"
"I am only trying to help you Sam." He lets go off my hand.
"I have lost my child, it's not something I like to think about. Don't you think I feel gulity?"
"I am only trying to help you. Your mum told me how you fell pregnant, through being raped, is that right?"
I nod my head.
"What did you do when she got knocked over?"
"I craddled her in my arms." My voice falls low, "I knew she was already dead, she was like a rag doll in my arms."
He strokes my hand. "What hurts the most about that day? Is it the point of she died when you should have been watching her, or the sound of her body hitting the car?"


3

I was still half asleep when Daniel woke me up to tell me that I had to Hayley to school as he had to go to work early this morning, he worked as a caretaker at a Primary school not far from here and I was sure it was an excuse so he didn't have to take Hayley to school.
I couldn't believe how quick the morning had come round, it felt like I hadn't seen mum for years when it had only been a night that I had been away for. I wondered how she was and whether she was missing me, I thought about this whilst I woke Hayley up and got her ready for school. When I came downstairs to make her breakfast I found a note that Daniel had left me, I picked it up and read it.


Morning Sam,
Hope you have a good day here instead of working, don't worry about work I am sure Jackie can miss you for the day. I am working until 4.00pm so please pick Hayley up from school and do a bit of house work for me.
Thanks.

Love you loads,
Daniel
xxxx


I had a boring day in the house, even when I picked Hayley up from school she went upstairs and I was left bored again. I sat back in the front room and let out a sigh, I was glad my life wasn't like this and tomorrow i would be back home with my mum.

I changed into the clothes Daniel bought me yesterday so he that he didn't think I was being ungrateful and so it looked as if I had been wearing them all day. I looked stupid, even Hayley looked shocked when she seen me wearing them and when Daniel came home he smiled and told me I looked nice, I didn't feel nice, I didn't feel attractive and of course I knew I wouldn't.
I told him to sit down whilst I made a brew, I called upstirs to Hayley and asked her did she want a brew she told me no, as I walked past Daniel to get to the kitchen he kicked out suddenly, I fell to the floor holding my ankle, pain shot around my body bringing tears to my eyes.
"I am sorry." He laughed. "I didn't mean to do it that hard."
"It's not funny." I choke.
He stops laughing. "I am really sorry I was only having a laugh, I didn't mean to do it that hard to you."
"It's ok."
"No it's not ok." he gently touches my face. "You have been wonderful to me today and I have just hurt you."
"My ankle will be fine."
"Let me help you up, sit down and I will make you a drink."
I didn't want Daniel to help me so I got up without his aide, "I have been thinking." I begin, "Sit with me on the sofa."
His eyes widen, he hestertates. "What?"
"I want to go back home tonight."
"Oh right." he mumbled.
"I just want to get things sorted at home."
"Is it because I kicked you?"
"No, it's not that."
"Well I am not stopping you just make sure you tell Hayley."
I give him a little smile, I was surprised he was all right with it, Hayley would be no trouble telling her, she was reading her reading book from school when I went into her room, Unbreakable was being sung by Westlife again but low. I sat at the end of her bed and she closed her reading book and looked at me. "Are you ok?" I ask her.
"Yes. Later can I learn you how to draw more houses?"
"If it's not too late."
"Have you still got that picture I drawn you?"
"Yes it's on my wall."
I watched her smile grow wide. "I will be going back home later." I nudge her leg in a playful way and smiled. "See I told you I wouldn't be here forever." I waited for her to smile but when I realized a short while after she wasn't going to I asked her what was wrong.
A tear slips down her face. "I am fine."
"No you are not. Tell me what's wrong."
Hayley looks up to me; a few more tears fall down her face. "Please don't go."


4

I couldn't get Hayley's words out of my head last night even when Daniel left for work this morning I had her words haunting me. Hayley was the reason why I was still here; I told Danile i had changed my mind about going back home. "Great. You can stay here and be apart of this family."
I give him a small smile.
"But don't take the piss out of me or step out of line or you will be out." he warns. "Do you understand?"
"Yes." I replied. "I can undertstand what you mean."

On the way to taking Hayley to school I asked her if she had anything to share with me. I didn't want to push her into telling me something she didn't want but I was desperate to find out what was wrong. I wanted to know her reason and I wanted to help her but she wouldn't tell me. I was worried also deepley about her and no matter how much I thought about it her cries came from home, and the only person was her dad.
Hayley's behaviour was strange, she was quiet and sad, she didn't play out or act like kids her age did, she drawn houses and listened to the same song being played over and over again, she had something on her mind and wasn't going to let her go until I found out what it was.
Hayley lined up with her classmates when it was time for them to go in. I seen Hayley's teacher approaching her class, I quickly walked over to her and explained who I was and she introduced herself as Miss Turner, I asked her how Hayley was getting on in her class and waited for her to replie.
"She's doing really well, she is working hard on her maths which she's been struggling with the only thing wrong is her reading. Maybe you should ask her father to call in after school where I could speak to him properley."

I was determined to find something that gave me an indecation to what was going on, I routed through Hayley's toys, her pictures of houses that she had drawn, I was about to route through her chest of drawers when the front door slammed shut.
I hurried downstairs to see Daniel stood in the front room. "I have been fucking sacked."
"What?"
"You heard me." he pulls his coat off and drops it on the back of the sofa.
"Why have you been sacked?"
"I have been sacked and now I come back home and you ask me why? Does that matter?"
Fearing I would be kicked out I tell him that I am sorry and put the kettle on to make him a drink.

I told Hayley on the way home from picking her up from school that her dad had lost his job; she greeted him when she came in and then left and went upstairs. I was exhausted from cleaning the house up, Daneil gave me the orders and I did them even if it meant I was doing them twice.
The evening came to a quiet ending, Daniel got Hayley downstairs and thery watched TV together whilst I cleaned the kitchen up, it was different with Hayley being downstairs and sat with her dad. I watched them carefully and nothing seemed wrong.

I woke in shock during the night feeling the blanket being pulled away from my body.
"It's only me Daniel."
"What the fuck do you think you are doing?"
"Keep quiet you fucking bitch." he ripped my knickers away from my nightshirt and forced his way between my legs. He held my arms down with such force there was no point in fighting him off me. I wanted to scream so hard for my mum.
I closed my eyes and told myself it would stop, he would stop any time now, but it was like the last time I was raped it carried on and on and I thought it would never end. How could he do this to me? How could something like this happen to me again? Did I deserve it? I struggled the last time I was raped but the man seemed to like it more, he was enjoying it more and loved the power over me. I couldn't fight this time, I couldn't fight and risk loosing Hayley.


5

Daniel took Hayley to school, I didn't want him to but I couldn't stop him. He was nice with me, telling me to just wipe down the kitchen and that's all I needed to do for today, he gave me a kiss before he left and I told myself to put what happened during the night down as a nightmare, it was just a terrible dream and to get on with things instead of worring about my own feelings.
I was in the kitchen wiping the side down when he came in, I placed the clothe down on the sink when he dragged me into the front room by my hair and kicked me, he kicked me so hard, I told myself it's just another pain after another and it won't last. I fell into a ball on the floor, covering my head with my arms.
"You fucking bitch!" he yelled. "How dare you see Miss Turner about my daughter. What gave you the fucking right?"
"I am sorry!" I screamed.
"You're sorry?" he stopped kicking me. "Why did you do it?"
"I thought she wasn't settling because I was here so I went to see her teacher. That's why." I carefully sit up, my body aching.
"Clean this fucking place up now!" he picked up a cup of the coffee table and launched it on to the floor; it smashed into pieces. "Now!" He screamed.
I stumbled to my feet and gathered the broken pieces within my hands.

I stayed as quiet as I could for the rest of the day and again Daniel was nice with me. I couldn't understand him and his behaviour was draining me I didn't know what was coming from one minute to the next, I was on my guard all of the time. I reminded myself I willl be out of here with Hayley soon and we will be safe.

This evening was different; before Hayley could go upstairs Daniel pulled her into the front room so she could read her school reading book to him. Miss Turner was right, she did struggle with her reading, she tried hard to get the words right but she didn't. I sit besides her; Daniel was sat at the other end of her looking bored.
"What does that word say?" she points to the word.
He gives her a look, "The word says coat." he grabs hold of the book and holds it in front of her face. "What did you think it fucking said?" he slams the book down on the coffee table and Hayley runs to the side of me. "She's not going to protect you." he snarls, I climb to my feet. "Don't go running to people who can't protect theirselves." Daniel laughs standing to his feet.
I push Hayley to the back of me. "Leave her alone."
"Hayley get here now!"
"I said leave her alone! You're not touching her. Leave her alone or I am calling the police."
"What for you stupid bitch?"
"If you come any closer to her I will phone the police."
He kicks the table. "I am going out for a fucking walk!"

Daniel came home shortly after armed with a bunch of flowers for me. "I am so sorry." he said. "I will never do anything like that again." I placed the flowers in a vase whilst he grovelled around me, "I will never do anything like that again. Have a look at Hayley's doll and I will make a nice drink."
I left the kitchen and went upstairs, once in Hayley's room Westlife was singing a different song this time it was Flying Without Wings, it felt strange hearing it.
"Have you seen my doll dad bought me?" I looked at it, it wasn't anything good, just a small plastic thing made out of plastic for its limbs and foam for its stomach, its hair looked like straw, but Hayley looked happy with it, she smiled and rocked her doll in her arm whilst she was at sat the end of her bed.
"It's nice."
Hayley stops rocking the doll, "I am scared Sam"
I was shocked to hear her say anything like that to me it took me a while to say anything back. "We can get away from here togther."
"Are you scared?"
I was petrified. "A little bit."
"If I go from here dad won't be able to give me love any more at night."
My heart raced. "What do you mean?"
"My dad loves me, he comes into my room and wakes me up every night to give me love. That's what dad's do."
I could feel my stomach turning. "What do you mean?"
"He gives me love."
My stomach churned so fast I thought I was going to be sick. "How does he do that?"
"It's our secret and I am not allowed to tell."
"Hayley what your dad is doing to you is wrong."
"My dad loves me."
"Hayley." I put my arm around her. "Your dad shouldn't be doing what he does to you. When people give you a hug that is right, like when I give you a hug that's right too."
"My dad says by touching my flower that's love, and that every daddy does it to their little girl..."
I couldn't hear any more I wanted to be sick. "That is wrong. Your dad should never ever touch you down there, your flower is very personal to you and no one should ever touch it or do anything like that to you. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I think so."
"You are very brave for telling me parts about what has happened to you and I am so proud of you. Tomorrow morning when we leave for school we will get away from here togther and go to my mum's." I pull her closer. "And then we will tell the police every thing togther."
Her eyes widen. "Your telling the police?"
"You haven't done anything wrong. I am really proud of you and the police will be proud too when you tell them."
"You won't leave me will you?"
I shake my head. "No I won't leave you."
"Can I take my Westlife CD with me?"
"Yes of course you can."
I seen a small glint in her eye and we fell silent again, she gazes up to me. "Can I tell you something?"
"Yes of course you can."
"Don't tell my dad."
"I won't."
"I never liked what my dad did to me. I used to wish the fairies would help me or my mummy. I wanted somone to come and help me and you did."


After Word

I have always believed things happen for a reason, the reason I met Daniel was to save his daughter, if it weren't for her I would never be the person I am today. Hayley opened my eyes to abuse that actually goes on and that there are thousands of children out there today being abused, many of them are at risk at this moment.

Hayley's abuse started when she was five, it carried on for two years, her dad was sexually abusing her and at times physically abusing her as well as neglecting her, Hayley told the police that she written in a book when she was abused by her dad, she had hid it inside her chest of drawers and that her book was like a friend to her, police seized her book and found videos of child pornograghy as well as photograghs of children being sexually abused which he used to show Hayley. He was sentenced to life in prison.

I found out that my mum never said a word to Daniel about our relationship and nothing about my daughter, Lisa; she had been too busy with work and thought I was staying over at Summer's house. Summer and I on the other hand have never spoke since the day she phoned me, I never want to speak to her again as I was sure she was the one who told Daniel about Lisa.

My mum supported me through it all, Hayley was took into care and through out it all she was strong and I was so proud of her, she helped send her dad to prison. Hayley is now adopted and living with a family who will give her every thing she ever wants including a new chance to live a normal and happy childhood.

I could never forget Hayley, she will always have a special place inside me that when I think of her my heart stops beating. I have always thought that I didn't just save Hayley she was the one who also saved me. She touched my life and heart in so many ways and I will never forget her.