THE DONOR NEXT DOOR

Seeing a friend’s pregnancy announcement on Facebook, I tried to force a smile before sighing longingly. For as long as I could remember, I’d wanted to be a mum, my maternal instincts kicking in when I was surrounded by dolls as a child and then babysitting as a teenager.

I’d always assumed I’d get married and settle down quickly, but as my 20s flew on, I was focused on my career as a teacher and now, at 26 in 2016, I wondered where that time had gone.

‘I CONFIDED IN DOUG ABOUT