When I was 10 years old, and my younger brother was just 3, our father left us. He found another woman, someone he fancied more attractive than our mum. Before he left, Dad signed our flat over to us, but it was still tied to a mortgage from years before.
When Mum and Dad were together, I went to a good school. I entered competitions, joined a few clubs, and played basketball. But after the divorce, everything turned on its head. Mum was forced to juggle two jobs at once. She worked as a cleaner during the day, then rushed off to look after an elderly lady in the evenings.
I had to switch from my old secondary school to one closer to home. I gave up basketball because, with Mum working every waking hour, I had to mind my brother whenever I could. Life wasnt anything like it used to be.
Eventually, I finished sixth form, got myself into university, and then landed a job. Still, I cant help but feel that my happy childhood was lost along the way.
Looking back, Ive realised that life can change in a heartbeat, and sometimes youve got to put others before yourself. But through it all, Ive learnt to be strong and stand by my family, no matter what.
