Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Dani-

She practically inhaled the happy meal when we got home, and half of my fries.

I carried her around my small house and showed her each room.

She was very confused about why I took her, but there seemed to be relief as well.

I told her, that her daddy had too much candy, and couldn't take care of her.

She asked if I put him on his side, indicating he had OD'd before.

I asked when her last bath was, and she said it was a few days, because she had ouchies on her back.

‘Where are my manners? I'm Dani, by the way. What can I call you?’

She looked a little shy, and cleared her throat.

Mimi: ‘Call me, Mimi.’

I had the feeling that was a nickname, for her little, but it was better than nothing.

‘Nice to meet you Mimi. Could I see these ouchies, so we could figure out how to get you a bath before bed?’

Mimi: ‘I would have to be nakey. Do I get more good girl pills? Daddy says I only get nakey for anyone but him, if I'm getting my good girl pills.’

My heart broke.

‘What else did you have to do, with his friends, to get them?’

She looked away.

Mimi: ‘Different things. Sometimes they made me dance first, but then I had to pretend they are daddy, and pretend it is ok for them to touch me.’

I wanted to scoop her up and tell her how awful I felt, but I had to stay strong, I had to take care of her.

‘I have no intention of touching you nakey, except to help you get washed up, and maybe take care of ouchies. Would that be ok? If you need another half a pill, you can have it, for tonight, but you don't owe me anything in return.’

Mimi: ‘Really?’

‘Really.’

Mimi: ‘What do I have to do instead?’

‘Nothing, sweetie. You, you don't have to do anything for me ok? I just want to help you.’

She seemed to be at a loss.

‘We're going to start cutting down on the pills, but with your ankle and all, I'm ok with you taking some for the pain.’

Mimi: ‘Have I not been good girl? Why don't I...’

‘You've been very good, but you don't need these pills the way I'm guessing your daddy convinced you, that you did.’

Mimi: ‘He said they keep me good.’

‘Sweetheart, they keep you high. Just trust me please?’

I got out one white pill and half of a blue one, which she happily took.

‘Now, these ouchies?’

She turned away from me on the couch and undid her onesie, lowering it to expose nasty marks on her back.

Long red marks, some open, looking irritated.

‘How did you get these, angel?’

Mimi: ‘Baby was bad.’

‘Tell me how?’

Mimi: ‘I was, earning my pills the other day, and daddy's friend, he kept being, not nice, it hurt, so I ran outside. I didn't mean to be bad, but it just hurt! Daddy followed me, and got a switch from the tree in our backyard, saying if I was going to act like a brat he would punish me like one.’

My heart was breaking, she sounded so ashamed of herself.

‘You didn't do anything wrong, sweetie, he did. It's a daddy's job to take care of his baby, and never let anyone hurt her, ever. If we make the bath really shallow, could we try to clean you up? If you need another white pill, that's ok, it's probably going to hurt to clean these marks up.’

She looked back at me, worried.

Mimi: ‘Do we have to?’

‘Yes angel, I don't want them getting infected.’

Mimi: ‘If you say so, I guess.’

I got her another pain pill and scooped her up from the couch, carefully, then gently sat her on my bathroom counter.

I started the water and turned back to her as she held her onesie closed.

Carefully, I brushed her long dark hair, until it was free of tangles.

‘Ok, I'm going to help you balance on your good foot, but I need you to get nakey for me, so I can see if there's any more ouchies.’

She nodded and let me help her before pushing the onesie to the floor, exposing dozens of bruises that broke my heart.

They were all different sizes, and colors.

The nail marks around her hips made me want to cry.

‘Ok angel, let's get you cleaned up.’