Page 2 of Chelsea’s Knight

As I reached the door, it flew toward me as I went to open it, and I came face to face with the monster herself.

My stepmother.

“Come out here, you ungrateful brat, you need to get changed because we have to go shopping,” she callously stated, shoving some of my good clothes into my boney arms.

I dutifully went into the hall bathroom and quickly switched my outfit from the too-small nightgown I was allowed to wear into clean underwear, a frilly T-shirt, and a pair of matching shorts. I knew my cute flip-flops would be waiting for me to arrive downstairs.

Because I knew she’d be anxiously waiting for me to come down and that the punishment would be severe if I dawdled, I brushed my teeth in a rush, pulled a brush through my tangled hair, yanking the comb’s teeth through the strands uncaring that hair was being tugged out in clumps, then headed down the hall as fast as my feet would move so we could leave.

I never sawhim, my bully,coming out of his hiding spot, and as I laid crumpled at the bottom of the stairs from his assault, my last cognitive thought was about how much I would miss my nonni and poppa. They were the only people in my life who showed me love.

* * *

“Dammit, Charles! Are you hearing yourself?” Poppa yelled. “You can see your own fucking daughter lying in that bed, in a medically induced coma no less, and yet you say Archie didn’t mean to do it, he tripped and ‘accidentally’ knocked her down a fucking flight of stairs? There’s always convenient excuses and they’re always unbelievable. They’re all damn lies is what they are! This bullshit stopstoday, son.You end it, or I will!”

Even though I was sleeping, I still overheard my poppa yelling and saying bad words at my daddy in his raised, stern, angry voice. Right now, though, I was being held in a pretty lady’s arms as she sang a soft melody to me.

“Shhh, Chelsea, my sweet girl, I’ve got you,” the lady cooed.

“Who are you?” I asked, looking at her, noticing how she glowed in gold like an angel.

She felt familiar deep down, but I knew I’d never met her before in my life.

“I’m your mommy,” she replied, answering my question in a song-like voice.

She smiled sweetly down at me, but it had some sadness attached and I instinctively reached up to touch her shimmering cheek.

“Don’t be sad, Mommy,” I whispered as a tear slid down my face.

I didn’t know where we were right now, but it was very pretty, with colorful flowers all around making me want to stay here forever. “It’s really nice here. I’m glad I have a mommy.”

“I’m so sorry I failed you, pumpkin.”

“I don’t know what that word means, Mommy, but you didn’t fail me,” I promised in all honesty.

No, the person who failed me was Miss Gloria and sometimes my daddy too.

“You’ll stay here with me while you heal and get stronger, okay?” she asked, her body constantly rocking me in a soothing manner.

“Okay, Mommy.” Her words made me so happy.

For once, I wouldn’t be scared to fall asleep.

Time was fluid here.

There were no clocks to keep up with what time it was, night and day all looked exactly the same. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been in this place with my mommy, my guardian angel, but one day, she looked at me and insisted, “It’s time for you to go back, Chelsea. Your body is healed, and your grandparents are waiting for you to come back to them. They’re so very sad without you.”

“But I don’t want to go back, Mommy,” I wailed.

I was so scared to go back to that house where pain and punishment were a constant in my young, impressionable life.

“Things will be different now, you’ll see,” she promised, gently kissing my forehead. “You’ll be just fine from now on. You’ll be safe, pumpkin.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, her calm demeanor washing over me and soothing my everyday fears.

“Positive. You don’t have to worry about them hurting you anymore.”

Miss Gloria and Archie.

---