“Mom, I hate him! I swear! He’s a beast! Wild beast!” cried Camille hoarsely while being cajoled to speak out by the Psychiatrist and Mom inside the clinic. “Don’t fear baby, tell us what happened so we can do something to make you feel better. We are done with him”, said her devastated Mom.
She’s a vibrant, lovely, precocious little girl with long curly hairs, big brown eyes and dimples on both cheeks. Camille’s innocent escapades in the garden chasing butterflies were daily rituals. She’d dance and hum her favorite song…. “I am but a small voice, I am but a small dream, to smile upon the sun, be free to dance and sing, be free to sing my song, to everyone.....”. And her garden escapades and butterfly chasing wouldn't be complete without her wearing that baby-pink-colored, wide-brimmed hat her mother had gifted her on her 3rd birthday three years ago to go with that intricately woven flower basket that she always held on her right arm.
One fateful day, while in the garden, her step-father called her from his bedroom. Her mother had gone out. He had never called her when her Mom was not there. She was hesitant to go but afraid to refuse. She found him in shorts fully drunk. He pulled her towards him and asked her to kiss. Her Mom had warned her not to be with strangers alone. But this was her Dad, she thought. When she kissed him on his cheek, he said ‘not this way’ and pressed his lips on hers. He started touching her at improper places and began to rip her dress open. With his palm on her mouth she could not scream as he went about making her do disgusting things. She felt scary and wished to vomit.
When he finally sent her out with a warning not to utter one word, Camille was crying so bitterly and morosely. She was afraid to tell her Mom as she loved him very much. Her Mom could surmise what had happened when she saw her disheveled hair and distraught face. It did not take much cajoling to find out.
Sadly her beautiful garden now looked gloomy and desolate as she tried to escape life’s traumatic realities.
Written for Thursday Tales (Tale No. 6)
and Three Word Wednesday (3WW: Prompts: Escape, Hum, Vibrant)
Photo Courtesy: DeviantArt member IzNoGooD
