The final part of our series today is about Audrey. Audrey, like Mary, emerged from the wreckage of her family.
Born into a broken family and once a promising athlete, Audrey’s life took unexpected turns, spiralling down the path of homelessness and prostitution.
The 24-year-old grew up with her extended family where she was exposed to abuse and neglect.
She faced challenges at home and was always the odd one out, but Audrey believed it was something to do with her.
“Life at home for me was difficult,” she said.
“I went through a lot while I was in the care of my own family. Of course, I want to change my life, this is not for me. But going back home is not an option.”
Her quiet and reserved nature made it seem as if she was a difficult person to deal with.
Often she’d hear degrading comments from her relatives about her.
She would hear whispering behind closed doors and was told she would amount to nothing, but Audrey was adamant about leaving home.
She attended high school and joined the school’s athletic squad. However, in search for companionship, Audrey began following the youths on the streets.
She indulged in the night activities and began rebelling against rules set by her household and school.
However, what felt like fun the first few nights, soon turned out to be regrettable.
“I began following the wrong people, they had a family that supported them, I did not,” Audrey said.
“I dropped out of school and started living life like a street dweller. I travelled to Suva shortly after and began being homeless.”
Before she realised it, she was caught in a crippling addiction to the street life that stole the best of her teenage years.
Eventually, she was left starving for days, sleep-deprived and worrying for her safety. She needed to survive, something that would sustain her immediately, like prostitution. She saw how the other ladies did it, and she followed.
“Never in a million years did I think I’d be doing this, but this is the only way I know,” Audrey said, her body covered in bruises and her shades barely concealing a blackened eye.
“A wife of my client came after me with a group of women, they were middle-aged. They ganged up on me and attacked me until they saw I was helpless. My friends came to help me, but that was after they were done.”
With no ounce of pain in her voice or tears in her eyes, Audrey’s heart was cold and numb to it all. When asked if she fought back, Audrey said it was pointless and that karma would get to them.
Her friends expressed their frustration on her behalf: “We are prostitutes, we are poor. Of course, we will accept the money if our services are needed.”
Audrey’s coping mechanism is alcohol. She finds solace and peace in the illusion it creates and its temporary euphoria.
She started singing the famous lyrics – I’ll be drinking when I’m hurting, and laughing with Rose as Mary swayed to the rhythm of the song.
The dreams she once chased as an athlete were overshadowed by the harsh realities of life, her potential never being tapped.
Beneath the surface of her circumstances, she clings on to the remnants of her old self.
Audrey hopes for a change and seeks assistance to enable her dreams of living a normal life to become a reality.
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