Companion Stories: Michael
"I have been married twice. My first marriage lasted for 22 years. The relationship broke up due to the fact I was never at home. I was working extremely long hours on a farm. I married again too quickly and was a carer to my second wife. I found the situation very stressful, and after that marriage broke up, I ended up in hospital with a drink related illness. I was drinking far too much due to the pressures of my second marriage.
Before I came to Emmaus I was sleeping rough on and off for about two years. I slept mainly in the woods because then at least I wasn’t out in the open. My only other alternative was to live in a bedsit and the wrong sort of people were living there. They were taking drugs and there were police raids and I didn’t feel safe and didn’t get any peace. I knew that I would get further into addiction if I stayed. I was also being taken advantage of by other people.
The worst point of all when I was sleeping rough was one night it was raining very hard and I woke up and I was totally surrounded by water. It turned out I had been sleeping in a marsh. I ended up in hospital. I couldn’t walk.
I wasn’t sure about Emmaus when I first arrived but now I have been here for nearly 5 months and I’m much more relaxed and happier in myself. It’s very peaceful and safe here. Everyone gets on and there are always people around who have had similar experiences to talk to. I hardly drink at all now and I am seeing a doctor who is monitoring my health. I have just done a level 2 in Health and Safety and I hope to do further training and education.
When I get up in the morning I have something positive to do. It’s important to me that this is a working community because I am someone who has always worked until recently. It’s only fair to do your share and not to expect things to be given to you on a plate."
