Cut (26 page)

Epilogue

I
had hoped that Dawn would phone again and possibly even visit, but she didn’t. And I came to realise that she wouldn’t necessarily want to be reminded of that time, which was so traumatic for her and from which she had moved on so successfully. I was pleased for her, but not hearing from her didn’t stop me from thinking about her. As the years ticked by, I imagined Dawn finishing college and starting her first job. Where she was living I didn’t know, for Dawn had been living with her and her stepfather when she had phoned and her mother had moved away. Possibly she was still living with them, out of the area, or maybe they had returned – I’d no idea.

Dawn is thirty-six now, and very likely married with a family of her own. And I’m certain that if she does have children she will be the best mother ever, giving her family all the love, warmth and stability she didn’t have as a child, and which she so dearly missed and deserved. Yet while Dawn hasn’t visited or phoned, I haven’t ruled out the possibility that she might yet. That one day, maybe on an impulse or remembering something of her time with us, she might pick up the phone or just pop in. For as Dawn’s memory has stayed alive with me for over twenty-two years, I think the same might be true for her. The bond that formed between us was a little bit special and will remain with me always. I’m proud of Dawn and what she achieved: she not only survived a dreadful childhood but successfully turned her life around.

Dawn, if you are reading this, take care, and God bless.

Acknowledgements

M
y continuing thanks to Carole Tonkinson and all the team at HarperCollins; my agent Andrew Lownie; and Anne Askwith for editing.

Copyright

This book is a work of non-fiction based on the recollections of Cathy  Glass. The names of people, places, dates and the detail of events have been changed to protect the privacy of others. The author has warranted to the publishers that, except in such minor respects not affecting the substantial accuracy of the work, the contents of this book are true.

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First published by HarperCollins
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2008

1

© Cathy Glass 2008

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be identified as the author of this work

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is available from the British Library

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Epub Edition DECEMBER 2008 ISBN: 9780007287154

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