Page 51 of Stolen

chapter 29

alex

Stay alive. That’s all you have to do, Lottie. Nothing else matters.

Just stay alive.

Wherever you are right now, just concentrate on that. Oh, God, you must be so frightened. I’m coming for you, Lottie, I promise, and I’m going to find you. I’ll never stop looking, no matter how long it takes. You just have to be brave and hold on for me. I know you can do that. You’re the toughest, bravest, most stubborn person I’ve ever met.

– oh my baby, my baby –

No more crying. I won’t if you don’t.

Did I ever tell you about the day you were born? You were nearly two weeks late and, even then, they had to induce you, as if you didn’t want to be born at all. So angry, sooutraged, at the indignity of it all. Daddy fell in love with you the moment he saw you, red-faced and furious, but all I could see was a stranger I didn’t know and was expected to love, and it terrified me. Your hair was dark, then. It only went blonde when you were two or three months old. We used to joke we’d brought the wrong baby home from the hospital, but the truth is, you’re just like me. Neither of us have found it straightforward to get along with the world, have we? Youwere a difficult baby. You didn’t make yourself easy to like. But as Daddy said, why should you? You didn’t ask to be born.

You had two baby teeth at birth, did I ever tell you that? Natal teeth, the paediatrician called them. So typical of you. You made my life hell breastfeeding.

I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you. I promise, when you come back, I’m going to do a better job of that; of everything. I’ll even quit work, if that’s what you want. Daddy was always so much better at all of this, wasn’t he? I’m so sorry I’m the one you were left with.

Baby girl, please don’t be scared. You just have to find a way to keep going, to stay alive. That’s all you have to do.Stay alive.Nothing else matters, do you hear me?

They can’t hurt who you are. I’m going to find you. Just hold on, baby.

I’m coming.

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