Mother of five Jade was bisexual, it turned out. Mel knew the old lesbian adage that bisexual girls will leave you for a man, but she felt a real connection and attraction to Jade, one she didn’t want to let go of just yet.
Within a week, Jade and Mel were in love. It was definitely not kosher to be in a lesbian relationship in a Christian refuge, so the two refrained from any public displays of affection and snuck into each other’s rooms at night. “She was wonderful to me,” says Mel. “She would leave notes for me through the day and buy me chocolates and little things like that. We had almost nothing between us, but she still made me feel really special.”
Mel had resumed contact with her parents and when she told them about her new girlfriend, they were concerned but grateful for the change in their daughter. Mel had become calm and confident and, most importantly for them, happy. She decided to extend her independence by applying for subsidised housing through the refuge. Mel’s application was successful and she was granted community housing for homeless women, which in this case meant a one-bedroom flat, for $45 a week, close to the art school to which she planned to return.
The unthinkable downside was that she and Jade would be separated. Part of the deal with this supported accommodation was that no one else could live or stay there apart from Mel. Jade looked so hollow every time Mel talked about the move. Mel soon knew that, risky as it was, she would be taking Jade with her.
Mel says that the couple of months the two of them spent in the flat are still some of her happiest memories even though they now seem surreal, like a movie you love right up till the ending.
They lived an almost boring life, says Mel. Mel was busy trying to re-enrol in art school and get a portfolio together. She was also in counselling twice a week and found it exhausting. She was trying to spend time with her family, who had met Jade and had taken to her surprisingly well. Mel’s mother was a critical person with a sharp tongue, who had been superficially supportive when Mel had come out, but was uncomfortable with her daughter’s sexuality not far beneath the surface. Mel began to wonder if they actually preferred Jade, who was warm and charming all the time, unlike Mel.
So while Mel was preparing for her future, Jade was organising a way to be reunited safely with her children and preparing for court. She said she felt safe with Mel because her ex would have no idea where to find her. She, too, seemed less anxious than when they had first met, and she constantly told Mel how happy she made her.
Life for a while was good. Jade received a phone call one day, and explained it was from an agency she’d worked with years before, offering her some modelling work. They had taken on some new clients who were looking for girls with her look and there would be a lot of work coming up. Jade’s eyes sparkled and Mel was delighted to see her face shine. It also meant there could be money in their future and they could stop struggling for a while. The only problem was that Jade’s portfolio was out of date and she would need some new photos taken. She was laughing when she said that all she needed was $1500 to guarantee thousands and thousands of dollars in return. Of course, neither of them had $1500, but Jade was excited that that was all it was going to take.
While Jade went out to mail letters to her children, Mel called her mum. “‘Just think about it, please,’ I told her,” says Mel. “We would pay you back within a couple of weeks.” And rather than hanging up on her, Mel’s mother sounded interested. “She’d always hoped I would turn into a straight girl who wanted straight things, so I think this was second best for her.”
Mel and Jade went to lunch with Mel’s parents and they were sold on the idea. Everything seemed to be going well.
Two weeks later Mel’s parents transferred $1500 into her account to
Within a week, Jade and Mel were in love. It was definitely not kosher to be in a lesbian relationship in a Christian refuge, so the two refrained from any public displays of affection and snuck into each other’s rooms at night. “She was wonderful to me,” says Mel. “She would leave notes for me through the day and buy me chocolates and little things like that. We had almost nothing between us, but she still made me feel really special.”
Mel had resumed contact with her parents and when she told them about her new girlfriend, they were concerned but grateful for the change in their daughter. Mel had become calm and confident and, most importantly for them, happy. She decided to extend her independence by applying for subsidised housing through the refuge. Mel’s application was successful and she was granted community housing for homeless women, which in this case meant a one-bedroom flat, for $45 a week, close to the art school to which she planned to return.
The unthinkable downside was that she and Jade would be separated. Part of the deal with this supported accommodation was that no one else could live or stay there apart from Mel. Jade looked so hollow every time Mel talked about the move. Mel soon knew that, risky as it was, she would be taking Jade with her.
Mel says that the couple of months the two of them spent in the flat are still some of her happiest memories even though they now seem surreal, like a movie you love right up till the ending.
They lived an almost boring life, says Mel. Mel was busy trying to re-enrol in art school and get a portfolio together. She was also in counselling twice a week and found it exhausting. She was trying to spend time with her family, who had met Jade and had taken to her surprisingly well. Mel’s mother was a critical person with a sharp tongue, who had been superficially supportive when Mel had come out, but was uncomfortable with her daughter’s sexuality not far beneath the surface. Mel began to wonder if they actually preferred Jade, who was warm and charming all the time, unlike Mel.
So while Mel was preparing for her future, Jade was organising a way to be reunited safely with her children and preparing for court. She said she felt safe with Mel because her ex would have no idea where to find her. She, too, seemed less anxious than when they had first met, and she constantly told Mel how happy she made her.
Life for a while was good. Jade received a phone call one day, and explained it was from an agency she’d worked with years before, offering her some modelling work. They had taken on some new clients who were looking for girls with her look and there would be a lot of work coming up. Jade’s eyes sparkled and Mel was delighted to see her face shine. It also meant there could be money in their future and they could stop struggling for a while. The only problem was that Jade’s portfolio was out of date and she would need some new photos taken. She was laughing when she said that all she needed was $1500 to guarantee thousands and thousands of dollars in return. Of course, neither of them had $1500, but Jade was excited that that was all it was going to take.
While Jade went out to mail letters to her children, Mel called her mum. “‘Just think about it, please,’ I told her,” says Mel. “We would pay you back within a couple of weeks.” And rather than hanging up on her, Mel’s mother sounded interested. “She’d always hoped I would turn into a straight girl who wanted straight things, so I think this was second best for her.”
Mel and Jade went to lunch with Mel’s parents and they were sold on the idea. Everything seemed to be going well.
Two weeks later Mel’s parents transferred $1500 into her account to
Similar Books
