In a silent terrace on the edge of winter, Lisa folds under the weight of everything she's carried. A single mum worn thin by poverty and a broken system, she’s spent months chasing help for her autistic daughter, only to be redirected, dismissed, and forgotten.

 

The cupboards are bare, the heating’s gone, and her notebook is full of names that led nowhere.

As the cold closes in, Lisa makes a quiet, final decision. She lays an envelope on the side and turns the gas oven on, preparing for stillness.