Amelia had some friends over to sleep tonight for her birthday. The girls’ bedroom isn’t big enough to sleep everyone, so I decided they could sleep downstairs in the living room.

Tom has been in a mood all day; tonight he exploded.

He said I had no right to arrange a sleepover in his house without asking his permission first. He wanted to know what he was supposed to do all night, as he wouldn’t be able to relax and have his beer on the sofa, as he usually does. So of course, he went to the pub and left me to look after all of the children alone again.

But now I can’t say anything because I don’t want to be that negative person anymore. I don’t want Tom and the counsellor to be right about me.

I’m silenced by my shame.