I'd been working on the streets for nearly three years when I met him. Me and had had another argument, which had led to him throwing me out. I stumbled aimlessly down the street, avoiding people's eyes. I knew what they were thinking - I was a cheap tart. I choked back the tears as the middle aged man across the road started making crude comments. I cursed as I recognised one of my regulars.

I'd started going out with when I was 14. He was seven years older than me and my parents didn't approve. I'd ignored their concerns - I was in love with him and I wasn't prepared to lose him. We moved in together and everything was fine until lost his job. I was only 15 at the time, and still at school, so I had no time to work. He hardly had any qualifications, and no-one was willing to take him on. He convinced me that selling myself was the only way we would make enough money to pay the bills. I loved him and I wanted to help, so I agreed to do it. I was quite curvy for a 15 year old. At first, it was just a few friends of his. I'd shut my eyes and let them do whatever they wanted, and I'd get paid at the end. Soon, I had three or four clients a day - most of who were in their mid-thirties. It made me feel sick, but I knew it was the only way me and could stay together. By the time I turned 16, I was making more money in a day than most girls my age made in a week. spent more and more time at the pub and he'd come home drunk and in the mood for a fight. The next day he'd apologise and I'd forgive him. As time went on, the fights got more physical. I'd spend hours in front of the mirror, trying to hide my bruises so that the clients wouldn't start asking questions. I changed as a person - I went from being a bubbly, outgoing person to being really shy and withdrawn. I wanted to stop, but he wouldn't let me. He said I was the only thing keeping us alive. I'd nod and carry on as normal.

Tears spilled over my cheeks and I pulled my hair over my left eye to cover the bruise. I turned the corner and felt myself bump into someone. They went flying backwards. "Sorry, let me help you up." I held a hand out and pulled the mystery person to their feet. I looked up to find myself looking at a boy no older than myself. "Are you ok?" "Yes, I'm fine. Sorry." I turned to leave, but he held onto my hand. "Wait! Can I get you a coffee or something? You look like you could do with one." "I'm ok, really. I have to go." "Well, could you at least tell me your name?" " ." "Pretty name for a pretty girl. I'm . Now we're not strangers anymore, would you join me for that drink?" I looked into his eyes and smiled. "I guess one drink won't do any harm." "Cool. This way." He led me to the cafe spent most of his time in when he wasn't down the pub. We sat down and ordered. "I don't have any money on me." "Don't worry about it. It's my treat. So, what exactly were you doing wandering the streets on your own?" "Me and my boyfriend had an argument." "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to be nosy." "It's ok, you weren't to know." I saw walk in out of the corner of my eye and got up. "I'm really sorry, I have to go." "But you haven't finished your coffee yet." "Look, you seem like a nice guy, and I don't want you to get hurt. Just forget about this." I walked off, and as I was nearing the door, someone grabbed my arm. "babe, you weren't going to leave without saying goodbye no, were you?" "Of course not." I plastered a smile onto my face as he planted a sloppy kiss on my lips. "I'm sorry about this morning, you know I love you. I'd never do anything to hurt you." "I know, I love you too." I hugged him and looked over to where I'd left . He was sat there looking at me and I mouthed 'sorry' to him. "Let's go home. I want you so bad." pulled me out of the cafe and I glanced towards the corner again. wasn't there anymore. My heart sank and I scolded myself. I was with , I loved him. I didn't even know , but something told me he was different to all the other men I knew. He'd treated me as his equal. We got home and pulled me upstairs. I lay on the bed, allowing him to do what he wanted. Half an hour later, he was asleep. I got up and got dressed, preparing myself for another days work. By that evening, no-one had turned up. came downstairs, stretching and yawning. "Babe, where is everyone?" "I told them you weren't feeling well and that you need a week off to recover." "Thank you." "Anything for my angel. You ok?" "Yeah, just a bit tired." "You go up to bed then. I'm out most of the day tomorrow, I've got something to sort out, but I'll make it up to you on Friday, I promise." I nodded and kissed him goodnight before making my way upstairs. As I lay there in the dark, all I could think about was and how safe I'd felt with him. I'd never had that kind of security with . As thoughts kept whirring through my brain, I found myself gradually drifting off. When I woke up the next morning, had already gone. I pulled my dressing gown on and padded downstairs, enjoying the fact I was free for the week. As I switched the radio on, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find someone on the doorstep. They had their back to me and their hair was covered by a cap. "Sorry, I'm not working today. Call back next week." The stranger turned around and my eyes widened. " ! What are you doing here?" "I came to see how you were, you didn't look too happy yesterday." "I'm fine. Please go, could come back at any minute." I went to shut the door, but he stuck his foot in the way. I sighed and grabbed his arm, pulling him in and shutting the door behind us. "How did you know I was here?" "I followed you yesterday." "WHAT!?" "I was worried about you." "Why?" "Because you didn't look very pleased to see . You shot up like a rocket when he came into the cafe yesterday. Why are you so scared of him?" "I'm not!" "Yes, you are." He reached out and brushed my hair off my face. I winced as his fingers grazed the bruise. "Did he do that to you?" I nodded, tears running down my cheeks as he hugged me. "Why are you still with him?" "I love him." "How can you love someone that does that to you?" I pushed him away. "Just go, please. He'll kill you if he catches you here. You don't know what he's like. Please." "No! I'm not scared of him. I'm not going to stand by and watch you throw your life away for that animal." "I'm not worth all this." "You are." He kissed me gently, waiting for a reaction from me. "Why are you doing this?" "Because I don't want to see you get hurt. You are so much better than this." "How would you know? You don't even know me." "You're right, I don't. But I do know, you don't love . The only reason you're with him is you're too scared to walk away."

As the moths went by, I spent more and more time with . He introduced me to his friends and . They were in a band together, and I thought they were pretty good. I could no longer hide my feelings from and we sparked up an affair, but every time, I'd end up going back to . It hurt me having to do it, but I didn't feel I had a choice. We met up in secret whenever we could, until one day, I decided I'd had enough of sneaking around. I packed my bags and left . I threw them down in 's living room and hugged him. "I love you so much. You're the only guy that has ever treated me with respect. All the others treated me like a piece of meat, and once they'd got what they'd paid for, they went back to their families. Even was like that." I snuggled back into his arms. "Thank you." "What for?" "Showing me what love's really like." "You're worth it."

For the first few weeks, I was nervous that would find me and put me back on the streets. I eventually convinced myself that if he'd wanted to find me, he'd have done it by now. I opened the front door and left my keys on the table. " , you home?" There was no reply, so I went into the kitchen. There was an envelope with my name on the worktop. I ripped it open and took the letter out, reading it quickly. 'Get to the cliffside by dusk or you'll lose him for good.' I gasped and dropped the letter. I ran out of the house and towards the cliffs, praying I wasn't too late. I approached cautiously, but I couldn't see anywhere. " ?" "Hello, angel." I stopped and turned round to face . "Where is he?" "Relax, he's fine." "What have you done to him?" "Nothing...yet." He signalled to someone in the van. The door flew open and a beefed up guy stepped out. signalled to someone else, who grabbed my arms and held them behind my back. The guy from the van took another step, dragging out after him. "Let go of him! , it's me you want, just leave him alone." I struggled to free myself as looked on and laughed. "You don't understand, angel. He took you away from me, and now he has to pay." I watched in horror as they tied his arms behind his back and walked him over to the edge of the cliff. "No! , let him go. I'll do anything, please don't hurt him." "Anything?" "Yes! Just let me say goodbye." "I suppose I have to, don't I?" The guy let go of me and I ran over to , kissing him. "I'm sorry, I have to do this. I couldn't bear it if he hurt you, I love you so much, I always will." "I love you too." The tears were streaming down my cheeks as I was dragged away. "You're really not that bright, are you angel? You didn't think I was actually going to let him go?" "What! You promised! You said you'd let him go." "Ready to do what I tell you." "No!" "I thought you wanted to help him." "I do." "Good." He dragged me over to and placed my hands on his chest. "On the count of three, you're going to push him over the edge." "No! please." "One..." "Don't do this." "Two..." " , I'm begging you." "Three." He pushed me, sending me flying into , who toppled backwards. " !" I dropped to my knees and cried. "Angel, how could you push the man you love to his death?" "I didn't. You made me do it." "ME?!" "Yes, you!" I spat viciously. "You are nothing but a spiteful, lonely bastard. I hate you!" "Big words. Johnno, get her in the van. We're going to pay our respects to lover boy." I kicked and screamed as they bundled me into the back of the van. "Why are you doing this, ?" "I'm doing it because I love you. You belong with me." "Well, I don't love you." "That'll change. Come on, get out." "You can't make me." "Yes, I can. Now MOVE!" He pulled a knife out of his pocket and held the blade to my throat. "Oh, dear, what have we here? It must be a long drop from the top." "You bastard!" "You love it. Are you going to say goodbye?" He pushed me down onto the ground next to . I took his hand in mine. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I never meant to do it." he opened his eyes and squeezed my hand. " ?" "I love you ...I'll wait for you." "I love you too. ? ?!" His eyes closed and he smiled. "Don't forget...never...forget." He took one last breath and his hand went limp in mine. I planted a soft kiss on his lips and brushed the hair out of his face. "Don't leave me, I need you. Both of us do, you can't leave us, ." I placed a hand on my stomach and gently rubbed the bump that was forming. "Time's up. We've got to go." "What about ? You can't just leave him here." "Why not? Someone will find him eventually." He approached my with the knife in his hand. I suddenly sprang up and kicked him, knocking the breath out of him and causing him to drop the knife. I picked it up and stared at it. "Bitch! Get in the van." "On the count of three, wasn't it?" " , stop playing games and get in the van." "He's dead, . I've got no reason to be here anymore. My life without him isn't worth living." " , just give me the knife. "One...two...three." I took an deep breath and plunged the knife into my body, gasping as I saw a trickle of blood drip off the end. I looked over to where lay and stumbled over to him, dropping on my knees next to him. "We can be together now. All three of us, like a proper family. Nothing can hurt us now." I lay down next to him, wrapping an arm around him as darkness engulfed me. I closed my eyes and smiled. I was home, where I belonged... in 's arms.