There was a little girl who loved her mom more than anything.
The little girl took very good care of her mom.
The little girl made sure to comfort her mom when she was sick.
The little girl would bring her mom blankets and pillows and stuffed animals and a bucket, while she was resting or asleep on the couch.
The little girl would always do what was best for her mom.
The little girl would make sure her mom remembered to eat and drink.
The little girl would answer the phone, and tell whoever was calling exactly what her mom instructed her to say.
The little girl would always protect her mom.
The little girl would collect money from strangers to give to her mom.
The little girl would sneak food from the store into her pockets so she could eat, when her mom forgot to feed her.
The little girl took very good care of her mom.
The little girl was happy with her life.
The little girl was left alone a lot.
The little girl would walk home from school all by herself.
The little girl didn't know the world had dangers.
The little girl protected her mom from bad men.
The little girl could not protect herself.
The little girl became afraid and confused.
The little girl saw magazines on her mom's bedroom floor.
The little girl heard people talk about doing things, like the things she saw in those magazines.
The little girl would stay quiet when those things were done to her, and just disappear until it was over.
The little girl assumed that was just a part of life.
The little girl silently cried at night for her dad to come and take her away, clutching a photo of them together in a silver frame, making sure not to wake her mom.
The little girl got to see her dad on some weekends. He seemed nice.
The little girl continued to take care of her mom, loving her unconditionally, and always protecting her.
One day, when the little girl was seven and a half years old, her dad told her that she was going to live with him from now on.
Starting that day.
That very minute.
It was time for the little girl to say goodbye to her mom.
The little girl begged her dad not to take her away.
The little girl tried to explain that her mom needed her.
The little girl tried to explain that her mom would die without her.
The little girl was keeping her mom alive.
The little girl was keeping her mom safe.
Who would love her mom if the little girl left?
Who would protect her mom if the little girl left?
The little girl hugged her crying mom, and refused to look away as her dad took the little girl by the hand and dragged her back to the car, away from her mom; leaving her to die.
The little girl tried to convince everyone to bring her back to her mom.
The little girl was left to wonder and to worry, all while faking a smile to continue being a good little girl.
For her mom.
One day, after the little girl turned eight years old, she couldn't see life getting better.
The little girl realized she wouldn't ever be able to save her mom.
The little girl blamed herself.
The little girl was left alone with her thoughts, swarming her and circling her like bloodthirsty sharks, constantly biting and making her bleed more in the chaos of her mind.
The little girl saw no end.
The little girl just wanted it to end.
The little girl sat on the hardwood floor, in the corner of her bedroom, placed a plastic grocery bag over her head, and tied it around her neck.
The little girl closed her eyes and waited for the end.
That little girl died when she was eight years old...
And a new little girl was born in her place.
...To Be Continued...
