The Stranger in Her House

by John Marrs

The rage rises inside me like lava reaching the rim of a volcano.

That’s how I feel when I am mad

Almost every day there’s a rainstorm in my head. I don’t know how many more dry days I have left.

‘The best thing about being a plain Jane like you is that no one will ever remember you in a crowd,’

never to give up even when the odds are stacked against you.

know I can’t change overnight, and sometimes I might get it wrong. Actually, there’s no ‘sometimes’ about it. Of course I’m going to get it wrong, as it’s hardwired into my brain to put my needs above everyone else’s. But I’ve never tried to be the best version of myself before.

social life hasn’t been as extensive or exciting

I remember when Covid struck and my social life was obliterated by the first lockdown. By the second, I’d lost my confidence in going out and seeing other people. By lockdown number three, I was completely alone.