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Episode Four: The Phoenix

A cat woke her up. A cat saved their lives.

In the middle of the night, something woke Vanessa. By the time she understood what was happening, the house was on fire.

Episode Four covers the night everything was lost — and the morning something new began. It also contains the moment Vanessa sat across a kitchen table and heard the truth about the fire from the man who started it.

Four voices this episode:

The story of the fire, the escape, and what Clive said afterwards.

The law on criminal conduct, domestic abuse, and the limits of the evidence standard.

Author''s reflection on Max the cat, Charlotte's gladiator speech, and what rebuilding actually looks like.

The stage — breathing space, and what it means to finally feel safe enough to sleep.

Her five-year-old daughter thought she could be a gladiator. She was going to be all right.

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#ImplacablyHostile #DomesticAbuse #WomensAid #SurvivorStories #DawnAustin #CoerciveControl #FamilyCourt #MothersRights #YouAreNotAlone #DomesticViolence #WomensPodcast #TrueCrime #HealingJourney #Podcast