Flirting With Danger

How did Kayleigh Parker, 21, from Seasalter, Kent, end up dangling 20ft in the air, fearing for her life?

- Jenny stallard, Chelsea heatley

A relationship? No thanks! That’s what I’d vowed back in the summer of 2016.

I was 20, and fiercely independent.

Lived on my own.

Well, apart from my fourlegged housemate, Ruby the Staffie!

Ruby, then 8, was my world. With her golden fur, she helped me through darker days. I suffered with depression. So dating someone just wasn’t on my agenda. But Jarron Webb, then 21, had other ideas.

We knew each other through friends, and I’d see him on nights out sometimes.

‘Are you going to give me a kiss then?’ he’d flirt.

‘I’m not that kind of girl!’ I’d always reply. Fine on my own.

Then, in September 2016, things changed.

Jarron had popped round to mine, just to hang out as mates. But we’d ended up kissing.

I found myself wondering: Could I let him into my life? Would it be so bad if I had a relationship with this man?

He doted on me, that was for sure. Not the huge gifts-andflowers type, more a subtle thing. If we were out with mates, he’d look at me across the room, and smile.

And, oh, that smile..!

Two months on, though the smile was still stunning, thingsweren’t right between us. Jarron had recently lost his mum.

Like me, he’d had a difficult childhood. His mum was an abusive alcoholic.

But rather than talk about his feelings, he was vanishing every weekend after staying the whole week at my flat.

I didn’t suspect cheating, just felt in limbo.

I’m not sure he’s good for me, I thought.