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43And although Henry fancied Melissa, he still longed to be a woman. Haley says: “From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a girl. I played with dolls and had lots of female friends. When I was 11, I saw a transgender woman and realised that’s what I wanted to be — but I also knew my family wouldn’t accept it.”Despite their confusion, the couple married in July 2005. Melissa says: “I pretended things were fi ne. The wedding night was awkward as we were both virgins — and it just didn’t feel right.”But the couple continued to bury their feelings and went on to have three children, Maria, now fi ve, Anastasia, now four, and Irena, now two. Melissa says: “We got on brilliantly but, during sex, I’d fantasise I was with a woman. I felt so guilty.”Haley recalls that, as Henry, she struggled too. She says: “I hated my male genitalia and wanted her body.”Finally, in March 2010, Henry decided to tell his wife the truth, saying: “I was so depressed — I couldn’t keep it in any more.”The perfect opportunity arose when the pair watched a TV show about transgender people. Melissa recalls: “Henry seemed to know a lot about them and, when I asked why, he said: “I am one.” I couldn’t take it in. I cried, then he cried. He tried to reassure me he still loved me, but it was overwhelming.”Initially, Melissa was in denial and told her husband he should work through his feelings. She admits: “I was worried what people would think.” The pair even decided to try for another baby — and Melissa fell pregnant with Francis, now one, in September 2010. But Henry couldn’t cope with living a lie.Melissa says: “I could see how unhappy he was, so I agreed he could wear my make-up and clothes at home — although I didn’t see him dressed up until three months later. He was wearing a skirt with boots, but I didn’t freak out. We laughed — it felt comfortable. “After that, Henry wore women’s clothes at home and we shopped for clothes together.”After fi ve months, Melissa — who’d stopped having sex wit...