Keep It in the Family

by John Marrs

Such a violation of the rules could place me inside the room next time.

No one under this roof believes in compassion. Empathy is an alien emotion here.

I remember every one of them. Because I am the bait that lures them here.

‘Look, I can’t say hand on heart that this is going to work out for us. It might be a complete disaster. But we can only give it our best shot and keep our fingers crossed.’

‘Funny, that’s what I was going to say in my wedding vows,’ she jokes.

For all her faults, I could never be without this woman. She came into my life at a time when I needed someone to be on my side, and she has never left. I would die for her, without hesitation. In fact, if it wasn’t for her, I would probably be dead already.

I know that I wear a different, tougher skin now to the one I was born into, but scratch beneath the surface and below I am that same, frightened child.

To some, I’m a saviour, but to others, I’m a monster. I know what my work has been about, all the souls I’ve saved from torment.

show me a mother who doesn’t want to spend time with her son and I’ll show you someone who hasn’t raised him properly.

I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC.

But I’ve grown to realise that when I don’t have blood on my hands, they are uncomfortably dry.

Maybe that’s why she’s not the only girl in my life: subconsciously I keep a spare as I don’t want to be left on my own.

Finn Hunter, 30, has been spending cosy nights with his ex-girlfriend behind his wife Mia’s back – and they have a daughter together.

Fuck.