Tanya Heaslip

So his family was there.

So I thought, oh, this is probably safe.

And I just went there.

He said, you can stay with me until you find...

work, if that's what you wish.

And so I found work at what was called English House.

And then I said, I'd better leave Cardale.

And he said, you can stay here for as long as you wish.

And so I never left.

So you moved into his place.

Was it the kind of beautiful, funky apartment in the old town that you imagined?

Or was it a panellacky, the communist housing blocks?

It was absolutely the latter.

This huge panalaki suburb and a tiny little apartment where there wasn't really room for me, but they were so generous and welcomed me in.

And I really did think, no, I'm going to get out of here as soon as I can and find one of those old town apartments.

That's where I want to be to fulfil the dream.

But they were a bit beyond my budget, I soon discovered.

Were you in love with each other, you two?

Yeah, I fell completely madly in love with him.

I later learned that, yes, he did feel the same but he refused to tell me.