VIOLENT Real Life
Hannah Martin, 34, from Northampton, was terrified of Hayden’s fits of rage...
Standing at the bar, a shot of Sambuca was placed in front of me. ‘I don’t know about this...’ I laughed. ‘Go on,’ my mate Cayley egged me on. ‘You only turn 30 once!’
It was July 2019 and my first night out since having my little boy three months earlier.
But I’d dropped him off at his grandparents for my birthday night out, and it was nice to let my hair down.
Drinks flowed, and a spot on the karaoke machine opened up.
‘My turn!’ I grinned, grabbing the mic and belting out Proud Mary.
We were at the village pub, and when the bell rang for last orders at 11pm, I wasn’t ready to call it a night.
He was a charmer and I felt flattered
‘My mate’s having a house party,’ one of the girls said to me. ‘Fancy coming?’ ‘Why not?’ I grinned.
Someone had arranged a lift, and when a blue car pulled up, we all piled in.
‘Thanks, Hayden,’ everyone chimed.
I’d never met the driver before, and squashed into the back seat, I didn’t give him much thought.
But at the party, Hayden and I got chatting.
Engaging and intelligent, he intrigued me.
‘Only 2% of the population have green eyes,’ he said, looking deep into mine.
Lost for words, I just grinned back, butterflies in my tummy. He was a charmer, and I couldn’t help feeling flattered. In the early hours, I headed home with a friend.
But a few days later, Hayden and I got chatting over text, after my mate passed on my number.
Then I asked him over for a drink after work.
Bringing a bottle of wine with him, we talked all night, and by the time he went home I was smitten.
Seeing each other most days, Hayden had all but moved in with me, and he was great with my son.
But a few months in, I noticed Hayden would sometimes make little digs at me, or call me names.
‘My ex was thinner than you,’ he told me – and although it stung, I tried to brush it off.
But by December 2019, things were getting worse, and after an argument, Hayden turned on me.
‘I’m going,’ he said, starting to gather his things. ‘I want to get back with my ex.’
His words were like a punch to the stomach. And within a few minutes, he was gone, slamming the door behind him.
But a week later, Hayden was back at my door in the middle of the night, after a few too many drinks.
‘Please, I do want to be with you,’ he begged, tears streaming down his cheeks. ‘I’m sorry, forgive me.’
Not wanting to make a scene, I let him in, and he talked me round.
Together again, I wanted to do my best t
