Session 1 - The Island

Once upon a time there was a woman. She decided to go on a last minute holiday. She went to the travel agent and was told about an amazing island. It had wonderful weather and was really cheap to visit. She booked a two-week holiday and, the following week, she flew out to the island.

The woman arrived at her hotel on the island and was so impressed by the beautiful hotel, the friendly people and the breathtaking scenery. At the hotel reception, she was told that she needed to hand her passport. She did so, reluctantly. The receptionist explained it was for security reasons.

The woman had a wonderful two weeks on the island: fun, relaxation, good food. And, she even had the amazing experience of meeting the king of the island. He showed a great interest in the woman, and the two quickly began a whirlwind holiday romance.

The day the woman was supposed to leave, the king surprised her at her hotel. He explained that he had fallen in love with her and  wanted her to stay on the island as his queen. The woman felt nervous but excited. She agreed to stay for a few more weeks to see how things progressed.

After a few days the woman realised there was something very wrong with the island. The islanders seemed less friendly, the food less delicious. One day she overheard a whispered conversation: she discovered that the king was a wicked dictator who controlled everything on the island.

The woman was shocked. She rushed to the king’s palace to confront him. The king became angry and locked her in the harem with his many wives. The woman was horrified and did not know what to do.

After many days, the woman escaped and managed to send a message in a bottle, seeking help. But she was soon captured and returned to the King’s palace. Months later, the message was found and a rescue party arrived.

The rescuers managed to get the woman off the island and to safety. But this wasn't the end of the story: the woman needed a lot of help and support to recover from all she had been through.