Please note that the name has been changed, but the story is real.

 

Mike was a 32-year-old scaffolder, who had a mortgage, a lovely fiancée named Sheila, and a beautiful five-year-old daughter, Annabelle.

 

Every day, after a long day's work, Mike would come home covered in mud, and his little girl Annabelle would rush to him, shouting, “Daddy, Daddy!” and jump into his arms. Mike would gently ask her to get down, as he was dirty from carrying scaffolding poles all day.

 

After a quick shower, he would join his family for quality time. Mike’s life seemed to be what everyone dreams of.

 

On December 8, 2021, Mike returned home after a regular day and walked straight into the kitchen to chat with Sheila. After about ten minutes of conversation, Sheila suggested he go take a shower, as dinner would be ready soon. Mike headed upstairs for a shower.

 

As he walked up the stairs, he realized that Annabelle hadn’t come to greet him or jump on him as she usually did. Concerned, he went back downstairs to check on her. To his horror, he found his five-year-old daughter unresponsive on the living room floor. He immediately screamed for help and called 999. The paramedics arrived, but it felt like an eternity. Tragically, Annabelle had choked on a small toy and passed away.

 

As you can imagine, Mike's world shattered. Sheila was devastated, and their lives were turned upside down. Everything felt numb for both of them. Sheila blamed herself for not checking on Annabelle while she was preparing dinner.

 

Three weeks later, they laid their little girl to rest in a beautiful yet heartbreaking ceremony. Two weeks after that, Mike discovered that Sheila had taken an overdose, overwhelmed by guilt and grief. She had taken her own life.

 

Within six weeks, Mike's life had transformed from that of a working man looking forward to marriage, with a beautiful daughter and a lovely home, to one of despair. Mike turned to alcohol to mask the pain, which led to him arriving at work drunk. Initially, his boss was understanding, but as Mike's drinking problem persisted, he was let go. Feeling as though he had nothing left to live for, he began using drugs, ultimately becoming addicted to heroin. He lost his job, his home, but none of that mattered to him anymore; he had already lost the most important things in his life. 

 

Mike was a well-spoken man, and his story deeply affects me every time I share it. He told me this story while I was participating in a 72-hour sleep-out and showed me pictures of his fiancée and daughter. Mike has been clean from drugs for over a year now, but he still struggles with alcohol addiction.

 

Many people are quick to judge those who are homeless or addicted to substances, but it’s essential to remember that there are often underlying reasons for their struggles—reasons that are not always their fault. If you can be anything, be kind. Have a conversation and show compassion.

 

Mike’s last words to me that night reflected his feelings of cowardice for not having the bravery to end his life to be with his loved ones. He worries they might be scared, but he is unsure if he will meet them again when his time comes.