Not Without You

'That night I lay in my new bed and the pain came. I thought about Irene. I would find her again. I had to.'

Alan and Irene first met in a cold, regimented children's home when he was seven and she was nine. Both had lost their mothers when they were very young. When a car drew up outside the Home, Alan was staring out of the window, and when he saw the little girl step out onto the pavement, he knew, in that instant, that she was someone special.

Over the next year the children were inseparable. But close friendships weren't encouraged and when theirs was discovered Alan was sent away without any explanation and no goodbye. He disappeared abruptly from Irene's life.

Not Without You contains painful memories of loneliness, cruelty and a total lack of empathy with what it means to be young. But in this astonishing story, two children demonstrate the ultimate truth: that love will always find a way.

“'This is a story of hope and destiny and will reaffirm your belief in romance'”

A remarkable real-life romance - Glasgow Evening Times

There's no question that this is love. It's a joy to see - Woman's Weekly

Love finds a way... A heart-stopping love story - Sunderland Echo

Love, Actually - Aberdeen Press

The couple's story confirms the power of human relationships over an unfeeling world - Oldham Evening Chronicle

This is a story of hope and destiny and will reaffirm your belief in romance - Soul and Spirit

'I'm not a fan of 'misery memoirs', but this is a shining exception. Alan and Irene both write extremely well.' - Mail on Sunday -

'I'm not a fan of 'misery memoirs', but this is a shining exception. Alan and Irene both write extremely well.' - Mail on Sunday

Alan and Irene left care with few qualifications and did various jobs until deciding to get more formal training. Alan gained qualifications in Quality Assurance and Irene as a Training Instructor, and they both went on to set up their own businesses. Alan and Irene married in 2007 and live together in Sunderland.

'That night I lay in my new bed and the pain came. I thought about Irene. I would find her again. I had to.' Alan and Irene first met in a cold, regimented children's home when he was seven and she was nine. Both had lost their mothers when they were very young. When a car drew up outside the Home, Alan was staring out of the window, and when he saw the little girl step out onto the pavement, he knew, in that instant, that she was someone special. Over the next year the children were inseparable. But close friendships weren't encouraged and when theirs was discovered Alan was sent away without any explanation and no goodbye. He disappeared abruptly from Irene's life. Not Without You contains painful memories of loneliness, cruelty and a total lack of empathy with what it means to be young. But in this astonishing story, two children demonstrate the ultimate truth: that love will always find a way.

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