Wonderfully written Matilda. I was born with my disability and my father died when I was two years old after he ran across a busy road one night coming out of a pub drunk and was killed instantly by a car. And my mother abandoned me when I was four years old leaving me in the care of my grandfather who raised me.

He passed away the night of my 30th birthday in 2008

My mother tried to come back into my life when I was 18 but her approach was all wrong. She wanted me back because she had told people she would. I had found out though she was telling people I was dead.

I personally chose not to have her in my life. She played the victim of my disability which I still had when she left me. So for me I felt it was too late. I had no memory of her, the only memory I have is her relentless showering me with gifts and photos of her travelling which is something she would have found hard to do if she stayed.

The only thing wrong with me is that I can’t walk. My disability (spina bifida) is from birth and permanent.