A Tormented Soul in a Beautiful Mind(Clara) 1

Lucy had just turned eighteen. She wasn't exactly a normal girl, at least not according to people she knew. She was born with one less chromosome, which caused her Down syndrome.

Her face was mostly normal, and even beautiful, but her eyes could easily give away her condition. Despite they were beautiful eyes, they were not normal, and marked her for everyone. She hated her eyes for that.

She was always sad, nervous and angry because of the mistreatment she has seen since childhood. Lucy was much more intelligent than an average person with Down syndrome, and able to understand and feel many things which some normal adults couldn't. But her parents and almost everyone around her were cruel to her.


A few days ago, at her birthday, which no one celebrated, her mother said she can finally throw her out of the house. Although she said it as a dark joke, Lucy knew she really wanted to do it. Even when she was a child, she had heard her mother saying she wished she was more careful before or after her pregnancy and regretted not having an abortion. Her mother had said that to her face as well, when scolding her for some minor mistake.


Her father wasn't any better. He rarely even spoke to her, and hardly considered her a living person. To him, she was just an annoying useless object, which caused money to keep.


She helped a lot around the house. She was a good cook and cleaner. But her main use for her parents was being a punching bag. Whenever they were angry with something, they took it out on her - emotionally or physically.


She wanted to leave her parents, but had nowhere to go, and wasn't able to provide for herself.


Lucy liked reading. Reading made her feel intelligent and educated, but more importantly, provoked her imagination and made her forget the cruel world around her. Television did it for her to a lesser extent as well.


Her family had moved to a new house recently. There was a park nearby. She liked nature, as well as getting away from her parents, so she went there to sit for a while.

As Lucy sat on the park bench, she watched the world go by. The sound of children laughing and playing filled her ears, but it did little to lift her spirits. She felt like an outsider looking in, always on the fringes of society. It wasn't fair, she thought. Why couldn't she just be normal like everyone else?

The park brought back Lucy's oldest memory, which had taken shape in another park, near her old house. Her mother had taken her there, when she was a little girl. As she saw the kids playing in a playground, she ran there to join them. But as soon as she reached there, the kids pushed her back, calling her "retard" and "freak", and telling her to get lost. Immediately after that, her mother scolded her for running away, held her hands tightly, moved away from the playground, sat her on a bench beside herself, and then got into a conversation with some other women.

After it, she remembered the last memory she had in that same park. It was three years ago. She was sitting alone on a bench. A little girl was running in front of the bench. Suddenly, the little girl fell to the ground, and started crying badly.

As soon as Lucy saw that, she immediately went to her. She helped the girl to get back on her feet. As the little girl stood up again, she noticed that her nose was bleeding, and her clothes had become dirty. Lucy comforted her by saying "It's okay... It's okay," and began beating dirt off her clothes by soft taps.

Suddenly a woman walked to her, and as soon as Lucy turned her head to see her, a hard slap threw her on the ground.

"You savage freak!" the woman shouted, "Why did you beat up my daughter?" Lucy was shocked. She couldn't understand why she had slapped her.

The woman hugged her child, and sat her on the bench, then grabbed Lucy's hand hard, so hard that Lucy felt like her hand was being crushed, as she dragged her in front of a group of women, who were sitting nearby.

"Where are this freak's parents?" She shouted. After a few seconds, one of the women who knew Lucy and her parents replied "They are not here. Why do you ask?"

"This savage freak was beating up my four-year-old daughter for no reason!" the angry woman responded.

Lucy realized what was happening. The woman had only turned to look what was going on when Lucy had already stood her daughter on her feet and was beating dirt off her clothes, and since her daughter was crying and bleeding, she had mistook her soft taps on the girl's clothes for hard blows, aiming to hurt her daughter, and had assumed her daughter was being beaten by Lucy.

Lucy began to speak but couldn't put the words together properly. "No! No! ... I was just tapping! She fell and I ..."

"Shut up, you retarded freak! You saw my daughter alone and thought you can do any sick thing that comes to your retarded brain to her?! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"

Lucy was tall, so people often thought she was older than her real age. That must have affected the woman's judgment. She tried her best to explain again. "No! Please listen! I was just tapping ... I'm not lying!"

"Tapping, huh?! How about I tap your face so hard that your nose bleeds like my daughter?" The woman responded with anger, then turned her head towards the women sitting there and asked "Where is her caretaker then? Someone must have brought her here."

"She is alone," the same woman who had talked earlier said. "No one brought her. They just let her come and go as she pleases."

"You mean they just let her on the loose to bite like a rabid dog?! What if I hadn't noticed in time?! My daughter could have got seriously hurt, or even ..." she cut her sentence there, toke her cell phone out of her pocket, and said "Okay, that's it! I'm calling the police!"

That frightened Lucy so much that she began to feel nauseated. She thought she can be punished even harder or even imprisoned for what had happened. The woman was almost crushing her hand under pressure.

"Mummy!" the little girl cried. The woman turned her attention from her cell phone towards her daughter for a moment and shouted, "Mummy will be with you in a second!"

As soon as she turned her attention back to the cell phone, Lucy threw up on her clothes. That was too much physical and emotional pressure to bear for Lucy, and her stomach had responded like that as a result.

The woman was shocked, and unintentionally released Lucy's hand. "You filthy freak! Come here!" she attacked Lucy with anger, but Lucy managed to run away. The woman chased her a little, and then stopped, but Lucy ran all the way to her house.

She was panting and crying as she got there. Her mother noticed her frightened face and asked "What have you done this time?" coldly. Lucy could hardly breathe, but desperately tried to explain. "I was sitting ... a girl fell ... I wanted to help ... a woman thought ... I hurt her ... and she ... I ... I tried," her mother cut her explanation. "You know what? Just shut up. I rather not hear it from you. Whatever you did, someone will inform me later, and I have to pay the price as usual. Now, go to your room, and don't come out until I say so."

Lucy went to her room and started crying. She didn't even come out hours later, when her mother called her for dinner. No one called her twice, and she remained in her room, crying.

That was the last time Lucy went to the park near her old house. She was too scared to go back and didn't leave the house for weeks.

Lucy sat alone and quiet, remembering these unpleasant memories. Not realizing that someone is watching her, making a sinister plan to take advantage of her condition. The person watching her was Rachel, a 34-year-old woman. She was quite rich and successful in her business career, but not in her private life. Despite being a privileged good-looking woman, anyone who knew her long enough, knew that she easily steps on the others for her own benefit, a trait which had made her rich, but lonely.

Rachel was attracted to young girls, and as soon as she noticed Lucy, she saw her as an easy prey for her own desires. Lucy was just another target for her to take advantage of. She quickly made a plan and went to execute it without hesitation.

2

Rachel sat next to Lucy with a smile. Lucy turned her head slightly and saw a woman she didn't recognize. She was much older than her, and had a smile on her face, the kind of smile which was familiar to Lucy; she had seen it many times on the faces of those who tried to mock her or take advantage of her condition.

"Hello there," the woman said gently. "I haven't seen you here before. Are you new to the area?"

Lucy hesitated for a moment before answering. She wasn't used to strangers being nice to her. "Yes... I just moved here." she replied cautiously.

"Well, welcome to the neighborhood!" the woman said, with the same smile which frightened Lucy. "My name is Rachel. I noticed you sitting here all alone and thought I'd come over and say hello."


Lucy smiled back tentatively. Strangers were never nice to her for no reason. "Thank you. I'm Lucy." she replied softly.

Rachel noticed Lucy's hesitation. She knew that people with disabilities often faced judgment and prejudice. But there was something about Lucy that piqued her interest. She was beautiful despite her condition, and met Rachel's taste.

"Would you like to go for a walk or something?" Rachel asked gently. "I could show you around the neighborhood if you'd like."


Lucy hesitated again, but something about Rachel's offer felt different. It wasn't an obvious attempt to take advantage of her, like how most people tried. She decided to take a chance. "Okay." she replied softly, standing up from the bench.

As they walked together, Rachel found herself drawn to Lucy's innocence and vulnerability. She noticed how carefully Lucy moved, as if every step required concentration and effort.


"So, Lucy," Rachel began tentatively, "Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do in your spare time?"

Lucy smiled shyly. "I like to read. I also like watching movies and listening to music." she replied.

Rachel was surprised by her answer. She had expected her to be illiterate and stupid, but her answer was something a normal girl could have given.

"That's great!" Rachel said with an excited voice. "Would you like to do any of those things with me sometime?"

Lucy hesitated again, looking up at Rachel with wide eyes. "I don't know... maybe," she said, her voice trembling slightly.


Rachel understood Lucy's hesitation, and could tell that she had been hurt before, perhaps both physically and emotionally. But she also sensed that Lucy was different. There was an innocence and purity about her that Rachel found irresistible.

"Listen," Rachel said, taking Lucy's hand in hers. "I know it might be hard for you to trust me. But I promise I won't hurt you. I just want to be your friend."

Lucy looked up at Rachel, her eyes searching for signs of deceit. She could tell that something was wrong with her apparently kind behavior, but she felt so lonely and desperate for a little tenderness that she decided to go along with whatever was happening. Slowly, she nodded her head. "Okay," she whispered.

As they continued their walk, Rachel talked to Lucy and was surprised that her level of intelligence and understanding was more than what she expected. She had no experience with people who had Down syndrome, and thought they were all unable to understand even the simplest things. She discussed many things from their favorite books, movies and TV series to their hopes and dreams for the future. Rachel was amazed by Lucy's resilience in the face of adversity. Despite being mistreated by her parents and living with Down Syndrome, Lucy had remained optimistic about her future and wanted to change her surroundings for the better.


As they walked, Rachel realized that Lucy couldn't be fooled and misused as easy as she had imagined at first. Her eyes, lips, and angelic face were captivating, but demanded more work to achieve. Rachel found herself growing more and more attracted to Lucy, but she was careful not to give away her intentions yet. She didn't want to scare Lucy away, and had to wait for the right moment, when some trust was built.

They continued their walk, exploring the neighborhood and talking to each other. Rachel shared stories about her life to make Lucy open up to her. Lucy told her about her difficulties with her parents and the problems she had faced since childhood. Rachel wasn't someone to feel remorse about misusing someone else’s trust, but the fact that she was going to misuse Lucy's made her a little sad and uncomfortable.

She decided to reveal her intention little by little, and if Lucy didn’t want to continue during each stage, simply let her go. She felt Lucy was mature and intelligent enough to say no if she didn’t want to continue, and that wasn’t misusing her anymore.

After a while, Rachel believed that enough trust was built, and said "Lucy, I have an idea. Would you like to see my house? It's nearby, and we can have a drink and get more comfortable. What do you say?"


Lucy's eyes lit up at the prospect of seeing inside one of the houses they were walking by. Although her parents’ new house was even worse than the older one, the new neighborhood generally seemed luxurious compared to where she lived before. She was eager to see one of the luxurious houses from inside.

"Okay," she replied, with a little hesitation.

As they walked towards Rachel's house, Lucy couldn't help but notice how beautiful the surroundings were. The houses they passed were grand and impressive.

When they arrived at Rachel's house, Lucy was taken aback by its grandeur. It was a sprawling mansion with large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The front door was made of solid wood, and an expensive car was parked inside. Rachel led her in, where they were greeted by a warm and cozy living room with plush sofas and armchairs arranged around a fireplace.

"Do you like my house Lucy?" Rachel asked with a smile.

Lucy gazed around in awe. She had never seen anything like it before. The walls were painted in soft pastel colors, and the furniture was luxurious and comfortable. There were paintings and sculptures hanging on the walls, and books lined the shelves. It was like stepping into another world.

"Yes," Lucy breathed, "It's wonderful."

"Please sit down and make yourself comfortable. I'll return in a minute, with some coffee. You like coffee, right?"

Lucy nodded, feeling both excited and nervous. She sat on the edge of a plush armchair, taking in her surroundings. The room was warm and inviting. She glanced around, admiring the artwork on the walls and the beautiful view of the garden through the window.


As she waited for Rachel to return, Lucy couldn't help but wonder about Rachel. She seemed interested in her, which was a welcome change from her usual interactions with people. But she seemed dishonest somehow.

Lucy remembered how her parents had warned her against strangers. They had told her to be careful around those who were showing kindness and inviting her somewhere.

They had specially warned her against following men to isolated places. A few men had tried to trick her into following them, but Lucy had never listened. But this time felt different.

Her parents were so mean to her that a worse kind of abuse she had receive from them seemed unlikely to her. Lucy knew that Rachel's kindness was not normal, and she was probably expecting something in return. Her looks, words and touches gave Lucy a pretty good idea of what Rachel wanted, but instead of scaring her, that made her feel excited. She felt she wanted what Rachel was planning to happen, and decided to let it happen.

She thought to herself, "I'll gladly let it happen, not because she has fooled me, but because I want to."

When Rachel returned, she handed Lucy a steaming cup of coffee and sat down opposite her. "So, Lucy," she began, leaning forward slightly. "Tell me more about yourself. Do you have a boyfriend?"

Lucy took a sip of her coffee, feeling the warmth spread through her chest. "No," she replied quietly. "I don't think boys like me that way."

"Why not? You are beautiful and kind. Why shouldn't they like you?"

Lucy looked down at her coffee cup, the warmth spreading to her fingertips. She didn't know how to answer Rachel's question. She had never thought of herself as beautiful or kind. All she knew was that she had been mistreated and called retarded her entire life.

"I don't know," she finally whispered. "Maybe because I'm different. Maybe they don't want someone like me."

"No! Don't say that! People are not supposed to be all like each other, you are different, but not bad in any way."

Lucy looked up at Rachel, her eyes filled with confusion and distrust. She had never met someone like Rachel before. Although her words seemed dishonest, but they were still the nicest things she had heard in her life.

"What about girls? Have you ever been approached by a girl?" Rachel asked with a kind voice.

Lucy shook her head slowly, her long hair swinging gently from side to side. "No. Girls don't like me either," she replied softly.

"No dear. Don't say that. You haven't met a nice person yet. That's all. But that time will come. Tell me, if a nice girl or a woman approaches you, would you consider her for a romantic relationship?"

Lucy thought about Rachel's question for a moment. She had never considered the possibility of a romantic relationship with a woman before that day. But as she looked into Rachel's eyes, she felt something strange stirring inside her.

"I... I don't know," she finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've never thought about it before. But if someone nice and kind like you approaches me, maybe I would consider it."

Rachel smiled as she heard Lucy's words, and saw it as a success in gaining her trust. Rachel had always been attracted to young girls, especially those with Lucy's innocence and vulnerability, but this was the first time she was acting to achieve what she wanted. Believing that she is getting close to where she wanted, Rachel continued "I'm glad to hear that. You're a special person Lucy, and you deserve all the love and happiness in the world."

Lucy felt her heart flutter at Rachel's words. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. She took a sip of her coffee, savoring the warmth that spread through her chest.

"Thank you," she replied softly.

After finishing their coffee, Rachel smiled warmly at Lucy, then stood up and extended her hand. "Come. Let me show you the rest of the house."

Lucy followed Rachel up a staircase with intricately carved banisters. They entered a spacious bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a lush garden. The room was decorated in soft, soothing colors, and there was a king-sized, comfortable-looking bed in the center of the room.

"This is my bedroom," Rachel said, turning to face Lucy. "It's where I rest and recharge."

Lucy walked slowly around the room, taking in every detail. She ran her fingers along the soft comforter on the bed, feeling the texture of the fabric against her skin. She gazed out the window at the garden, imagining what it would be like to wake up to that view every morning.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, turning back to Rachel. "Thank you for showing me."

"Would you like to try my bed? It's very comfortable."

Lucy looked at Rachel, surprised by her offer. She had never slept in a bed like that before. It was big and soft, with fluffy pillows and warm blankets. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"I have an idea Lucy," Rachel continued, "How about we both lay in my bed, and I give you a nice massage?" Rachel asked with a sinister smile.

Lucy looked at Rachel, her eyes widening in surprise. A massage? She had never had one before. "Okay," she replied softly, walking towards the bed.

She was about to lie on the bed as Rachel said "Wait! I want you to be more comfortable. How about you remove your clothes? That way I can massage you even better."

Lucy looked at Rachel, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. She had never been asked to do something like that before. She wanted to experience it, but still, she was shy to do it. She held a button in her hands, ready to open it, but couldn't bring herself to do it.

Rachel noticed her hesitation and went to her. "Here, let me help you get out of these clothes." she said, as she began undressing her.

Lucy felt a mixture of nervousness and anticipation as Rachel removed her clothes. She had never been undressed by a stranger before, let alone someone as beautiful and sophisticated as Rachel. Rachel removed her shirt and pants. She was now standing in front of her with a pair of black bra and panties.

"Don't be shy dear, you are beautiful," Rachel said, as she caressed her face, and continued "Let me get more comfortable too," as she began to undress.

Lucy felt a warmth spread through her body as Rachel removed her clothes. She watched as Rachel slipped out of her own clothes, revealing a gorgeous, curvy figure. Rachel's skin was smooth and flawless, and her body was toned and muscular. She was wearing nothing but a lace bra and panties that matched Lucy's.

As they lay down together on the bed, Rachel began to massage Lucy's shoulders and back. The sensation was incredible, sending shivers down her spine. Lucy closed her eyes, allowing herself to fully immerse in the experience. She could feel Rachel's strong, skilled hands working out the knots and tension in her muscles.

"Lucy, can I open your bra dear? You’ll feel more comfortable that way, and I can massage your back even better."

Lucy felt more comfortable with Rachel now, so she replied "Yes, open it."

Rachel opened Lucy's bra as she was lying on her stomach. She continued to massage her, and asked "How does it feel like? Are you enjoying?"

Lucy sighed in pleasure. "Yes, it feels good." She replied. She felt the warmth of Rachel's hands on her skin, and the softness of the bed beneath her. She closed her eyes, trying to relax more.

"I'm glad. You know, it's really a nice feeling when you know you are making someone feel good. Do you agree?"

Lucy didn't respond, lost in the blissful sensation of Rachel's hands on her body. Rachel continued to massage her, working her way down to Lucy's legs. She could feel the warmth of Lucy's skin beneath her fingertips and the softness of her flesh as she kneaded the muscles.

As she worked, Rachel couldn't help but notice the way Lucy's body reacted to her touch. She could feel Lucy's heartbeat quicken, and her breathing hastened. It was clear that this was new and exciting for her.

Rachel continued her massage, slowly working her way back up Lucy's body. She noticed how Lucy's skin seemed to glow in the soft light of the room, and how her eyes fluttered closed in pleasure.

As she reached Lucy's shoulders, Rachel began to knead the muscles gently, applying just the right amount of pressure. She could feel Lucy's body tense under her touch, and then relax into the sensation.

"You know Lucy, I can make you feel much better. All you have to do is to trust me." Rachel whispered into her ear.

"I trust you to do that," Lucy replied, "but I just have one favor to ask."

"What is it dear?"

"Don't pretend."

Rachel was surprised, and asked "Pretend? What do you mean?"

"I know why you brought me here," Lucy said with a sad voice, "and I'm okay with it. You don't have to pretend that you like me, care about me, or things like that."

Rachel was taken aback by Lucy's words. She hadn't expected her to be so perceptive. "Lucy, I'm not pretending," she said softly, "I do like you. I care about you. And I think you're beautiful."

"It's nice of you to say those things, but please, treat me like an adult if you want this to continue. I know a woman like you can't be interested in me like that. You just like my body, but that's okay. I have read about intimacy, and I would like to experience it with you. So, let's be honest towards each other, and try it."

Lucy looked at Rachel, waiting for her response. She saw Rachel's eyes widen in surprise, but she didn't back away or show any signs of disgust. Instead, she smiled and said, "You're right, Lucy. We should be honest with each other. You are more intelligent than I had assumed. And yes, I want to try it with you. I'll teach you how to do it, and make sure it would be a memorable experience for you."

Rachel turned Lucy around, facing her, and kissed her lips passionately. She was serious about making Lucy's first experience of intimacy a memorable one for her. She pleased Lucy as best as she could, making her moan and shake in pleasure, and taught her how to satisfy a woman. Then she offered herself to Lucy, letting her explore her body. Lucy returned the favor by using the lesson she had just learned to bring Rachel to an orgasm.

It was a pleasant experience for both of them. Rachel tasted Lucy's youth and passion, and Lucy felt very confident knowing that she can cause someone so much pleasure, and felt like an adult, equal to her partner, as least while the sex was still going on. Lucy felt a sense of pride and accomplishment as she watched Rachel's face contort with pleasure. She had never felt so powerful or in control before, and she was grateful for the opportunity to share this intimate experience with someone.

Rachel, still panting from her orgasm, reached out to Lucy, pulling her into a tight embrace. Lucy's body molded against hers, and she felt the warmth of Lucy's skin against hers. As their breathing slowed, they held each other, savoring the moment.

"Thank you, Lucy," Rachel whispered, her voice hoarse from pleasure. "That was... amazing."

"Thank you for doing it with me Rachel. I will not forget this day as long as I live."

Rachel, still reeling from the intensity of the experience, leaned in close to Lucy and whispered "You're welcome," her voice thick with emotion. She brushed a strand of hair away from Lucy's face, tracing her fingers along her cheekbone.

They rested in each other's arms for a few minutes, until Lucy broke the silence. "Can I ask you a question? I know the answer won't be pleasant, but I want you to be honest with me."

Rachel nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"What were you thinking when you approached me in the park?"

Rachel took a deep breath, knowing that this conversation was long overdue. She looked Lucy in the eyes, searching for any sign of discomfort or fear. But all she saw was genuine curiosity.

"Okay, I'll be honest. It's hard for me to admit it, and I'm not very proud of the answer I'm giving. But I will tell the truth. You are very beautiful, and I like young girls such as you. When I saw you sitting alone, I thought I can easily lure you into bed."

Lucy sighed. "That's what I thought." She said with a sad voice.

Rachel felt bad. She had considered Lucy a prey for her own sexual pleasure. But that didn't feel right anymore. She thought the poor girl deserves better.

"Lucy, I'm sorry." Rachel said. "I realize now that I was wrong to think of you that way. You are not an object for my pleasure. You are a beautiful, intelligent, and caring person. I was blinded by my own desires and didn't see your worth."

"You don't have to comfort me. It's okay. I knew you were trying to use me since the start. That's what all people do. I'm used to it. But I also wanted this to happen, that's why I followed you."

Rachel was taken aback by Lucy's response. She hadn't expected such honesty and insight from someone so young with learning disability.

"I understand you had your reasons for wanting this to happen. You must have felt lonely and isolated from the world around you. I'm sorry if I contributed to that pain." Rachel said, her voice filled with remorse.

"It's okay." Lucy replied, "I'm used to it. But thank you for being honest with me now. It means a lot."

Rachel looked at Lucy, truly seeing her for the first time. She saw the beauty in her eyes, the intelligence in her words, and the strength in her heart. She regretted her attempt for using Lucy, and felt guilt for putting her desires above anything else. She felt a desire to be closer to her, and experience more things with her.

As they were lying together, Lucy's cell phone rang. Lucy realized that a long time had passed since she left her house, and it was getting dark. It was her mother, probably angry with her for being out so long.

"Hello?" Lucy answered hesitantly.

"Where the hell are you? Do you know what time it is?" her mother shouted.

"I'm nearby, with a friend."

"A friend? Who? What's going on? Are you lying to me? You don't have any friends! What have you done this time?"

"Nothing! I met her today. She is nice."

Lucy's mother didn't believe her. "I'm coming to get you right now, you useless retarded brat! Tell me where you are!" She shouted.

Lucy became angry. She had felt mature and good with Rachel, at least for a short while, but her mother was renewing her pain and bringing back everything she disliked.

She made up her mind and shouted "No! I won't take it anymore! I don't want to live with you anymore! I don't even want to see you! I rather sleep in streets than be with you!"

Her mother was surprised by the answer, and responded "Good! The feeling is mutual. You are grown up now. I don't want to have a retarded brat in my house anymore. In fact, I never did."

"I'm leaving you tonight," Lucy responded, trembling with anger. "I'm coming back, but only to gather my things. After it, I don't want to see you anymore!"

"Fine! I'll speed things up by throwing everything you have here outside! I should have had an abortion years ago. It's a shame that I paid for raising you and kept a retarded brat in my house all these years!"

Lucy was shocked by her mother's words. She felt her heart breaking into a million pieces. She knew that she had nowhere to go, but she was serious about preferring streets to where they didn't want her. She hung up and started crying uncontrollably.

Rachel, who had been listening to the conversation, was horrified. She had never encountered such cruelty and indifference before. She held Lucy tightly, trying to comfort her as she shook with sobs.

"I'm sorry about that," Rachel said, trying to comfort her. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have kept you so long. I'll give you a ride home."

"No, you don't have to do that. You got what you wanted, and so did I. There is nothing more. I'll leave now."

Lucy started dressing up as she was still crying. Her hands were shaking, so it was hard for her to close her buttons. Rachel didn't know what to say. She wanted to help, but the thought of admitting to Lucy's parents that she was with their daughter seemed frightening and embarrassing. Her parents would have been surprised to see their daughter in a car with a much older woman, and could have guessed what had happened between them. So, she just sat on her bed in silence and watched as Lucy got dressed and left.

3

Lucy was determined to face her parents and leave her house when she exited Rachel's door. But as she walked home in dark and cold streets, her determination faded away little by little. When she was by her parents' door, she had nothing but fear. Although her mother hadn't thrown her things outside like she had said on the phone, Lucy was afraid to face her parents, and didn't know what to say.

She stayed in the cold for a while, trying to think of something, but nothing came to her mind. She hated her parents, but the only thing she could do was asking mercy from them.

Finally, she mustered up some courage to open the door. She used her key, but the door was locked from inside. That frightened her even further. This had never happened before. It meant that her parents didn't want her inside.


Desperate and scared, she rang the door. After a minute, her mother opened the door.

"What do you want?" she asked with a cold voice.

Lucy was ashamed and afraid, so she just stayed silent and stared down.

"Don't bother us anymore." Her mother said, as she closed the door.

Lucy was terrified and thought her parents were really going to leave her outside forever. She was ashamed to ring again, but saw no other choice.


Her mother opened the door again, this time with an angry face. "Why do you keep ringing? Do you have any business over here?"

"I want to come in." Lucy said with a desperate voice, hardly hearable.

"To gather your things and leave?" Her mother asked with a mocking tone.

"No... I... I..."

"Please don't tell me you want to live here after what you did. Do you remember what you said to me earlier?"

"Sorry... I didn't mean it... I just... I was angry." Lucy replied with a trembling voice.


"I'm not sure I can let you in. First of all, you got some explaining to do. Come here."

She took Lucy's hand and sat her on a chair inside. Lucy's father was reading a newspaper, and aside from a quick look, didn't react to her at all.

"I'm warning you," her mother said with a threatening voice, "if you tell me a single lie or try to hide anything, I’ll kick you out immediately and I won't open the door again, is that understood?"

"Yes." Lucy replied crying.

"Where were you?"

"At a friend's house."

"And how exactly did you become friends?"

"We met in the park today."

While questioning Lucy, her mother noticed some red marks on Lucy's neck, which looked like hickeys.

"I don't like it when you beat around the bush Lucy," her mother said with anger. "I'm going to ask you a simple question, and you are going to give me a clear answer, or I'll throw your retarded ass outside and never allow you in again."


That frightened Lucy. Her father who wasn't paying attention before, lowered his newspaper to look at them.

"Did you touch each other?" her mother asked with a serious voice and a threatening look.

Lucy was ashamed to admit it, but she was scared of lying. The prospect of spending the nights outside, hungry, in darkness and cold, which she really believed was awaiting her, was terrifying. She barely gathered enough strength to whisper "yes".

As soon as she said it, a hard slap almost threw her on the ground.

"You dirty slut," her mother yelled with anger. "I had told you not to follow men anywhere! I had warned you about them trying to touch you! But I let you go to the park one time, and on the first day what happens?! You end up being fucked by a stranger and come home covered in hickeys! I know I shouldn't expect much from you, but I thought whatever you do, as least you won't act like a slut. But you proved me wrong! I forced myself to raise you and took care of your needs, despite I never wanted to have a retarded girl in my house! And what do I get in return? Not just a rude ungrateful brat, but a dirty slut!"


Lucy was crying loudly now. Her mother held her in place, and yelled:

"What if you get sick, or pregnant?! Did he even used protection?!"

"No!" Lucy cried, with a loud voice, which almost seemed like a scream.

"Don't you yell at me! Get up! We are going to his house. Show me where he took you. I will sue him for what he did, and you must tell the truth when the police questions you."

She forcefully stood Lucy up, and then turned towards her husband. "You call yourself a man?! Get up right now! We should identify the guy and make him pay, unless you want another retarded child in this house!"

Before her father could react, Lucy screamed "She was a woman! It wasn't a man! She was a woman!"

Her mother turned towards her, with a surprised face, and his father burst into laughter.

"Oh, I see!" Her mother responded, with widened eyes."You are full of surprises Lucy! Every time I think you have hit the rock bottom, you surprise me by proving that you can go even lower! Are you telling me a dyke approached you in the park, you followed her to her house, and boom boomed together?!"

Lucy nodded, crying uncontrollably.

"Oh my god! I can't continue this anymore!" her mother said as she covered her face with her hands and sat on a sofa, in front of the father, who was still laughing.

After a few seconds, she removed her hands and looked at Lucy, who was still crying. "Get out of my face! Go to your room!" she screamed with anger, throwing a cushion at her. Lucy ran for her room and closed the door behind her.

The mother realized that her husband was still smiling, which made her angry. "What are you laughing at?!Do you have any idea how much trouble she can cause us by acting like a slut?!" She asked furiously.

"Why are you so negative?" he responded calmly, with a smile."Where you see trouble, I see opportunity. The only reason we have kept her around is the large amount of money we receive from different charities. We have promised to spend it all for her education and other needs, but she is an adult now. That means no more charity. It also means a quick investigation can prove all that money has been spent elsewhere. So, the only solution I see is making her someone else's problem."

His wife listened carefully, as he continued "She said something about being with a woman. Why not find out who she is, and make her take Lucy with herself? We want to get rid of her. So, if someone has liked her enough to take her home and leave all those hickeys on her, we can ask her to take her there again, not for a single session, but permanently. We just have to be smart about it."

That made Lucy's mother think. She considered what her husband had said, and her face expression changed from furious to thinking.

4

Lucy couldn't sleep at all that night. She hated herself and everything around her for what had happened. Everyone wanted to hurt or abuse her. Her life seemed meaningless, but she was forced to carry on.

It was her duty to prepare breakfast for her parents at home. When it was time, she left her bed to do that. Her eyes were still reddish from all that crying last night.

To her surprise, she saw her mother in the kitchen, preparing breakfast herself.

"There is my sweet girl", she said with a pleasant smile. "How are you?"


Lucy was surprised. She expected her mother to be cold and angry, but she seemed happy and nice.

"I'm fine." Lucy said with confusion. "I will do it."

"No dear. You didn't eat dinner last night, so you must be hungry. I care about you. I don't want you to think otherwise. Please sit down. I want to speak with you."


She was speaking kindly to Lucy. That seemed strange to her, and she couldn't figure out why. Lucy sat down, still not sure what to think.

"I'm sorry I was so harsh on you last night." the mother told Lucy with a kind voice, and continued "You didn't deserve that. When I thought about it, I realized that you are a grown woman. You are free to love whoever you want, and it's natural for the others to love a sweet girl like you. I should have been happy that you finally found love in your life. I'm sure that woman, who I still don't know her name, loves you too. By the way, what was her name?"


Lucy couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was the first time she was seeing such a kindness from her mother. "Rachel" she whispered.

"Rachel... so, tell me more about her. How old is she? How does she look like?"

"I don't know. I think she is thirty. She is nice, and lives in a beautiful house."

"Is that so? I knew you have a good taste!" her mother's smile widened even further, and continued "And when are you going to see her again?"

"I don't think I will. She just wanted to be with me... she was honest and admitted that she was interested in... in... young girls... and took me to her house because she was attracted to me. It was a one-time thing."

The smile was wiped out of her mother's face, and replaced with an angry expression that frightened Lucy, as soon as she finished her sentence. But after a few seconds, another smile came back to her mother’s face, which seemed fake and uncomfortable.


"Don't say that dear," her mother continued, "Adult relationships are complicated. They are not like what you have experienced so far. Grown-ups don't admit they love someone at first. I'm sure she eagerly wants to see you again."

"But she is rich and educated," Lucy replied in surprise, "there is no reason for her to love someone like me. She told me herself. What happened that day was something that... that... just happened. I mean... it didn't mean that she loves me... we only wanted to... wanted to be together, for a short time. I'm sorry!"

"No, don't be," her mother said with a comforting voice, "and no, it's more complicated than that. You know, when your father and I met, we thought like that too. We thought those beautiful moments didn't mean anything, and what was between us was just something temporary. But we kept going back to each other, until we were ready to express our true feelings."


That didn't made sense to Lucy. She wanted to believe Rachel loved her, but even with her learning disability, she knew that was far from truth. But she didn't dare to question her mother's judgement. "I don't know... what do you think I should do?" she asked softly, waiting for her mother to make a point.

"You should keep speaking and seeing each other. Sooner or later, you will find some common ground, and can improve your relationship to a higher level. Do you have her phone number?"

"No. I saw no reason to take it. I thought I don't need to speak with her again."

"But you know where she lives, right? You told me she took you there last night."

"Yes, I know. But... it doesn't feel right. I don't think it's right for me to go back to her."

"Don't say that dear. I'm sure she is waiting for you. She would be happy to see you again."

"But..."

"But nothing! We'll have a nice breakfast, then I'll help you put on some make-up. You should look good for Rachel. Then you should go see her."

Her mother's voice and face expression changed from kind to ordering, as she finished speaking.

"Okay." Lucy replied uncomfortably.

It was clear to her that her mother was mistaken. But she couldn't bring herself to express her disagreement any further. Showing up at Rachel's door was awkward for her, especially since Rachel had been honest with her yesterday, and had clearly said why she was interested in her.

After the breakfast Lucy's mother helped her with some make-up. This was the first time she was doing such a thing. Before that day, Lucy was never allowed to touch her mother's cosmetics, and a few times she had tried to do so out of curiosity, had ended with her mother scolding her.


Lucy's eyes were round and beautiful, but right beneath them, there were large dark blubbery spots, which were the main things that made her different from a normal girl. Her mother was particularly careful to hide those spots, and make her eyes look normal. She even went to extremes in her make-up.

By the time she was finished, Lucy looked like a completely different person. There was no trace of Down syndrome left on her face, and she looked extremely beautiful. As Lucy looked into the mirror in front of her, she couldn't believe that the person sitting there was her. The image was even better than any face she had dreamed of having, and expressed confidence, intelligence and power, instead of the disability she was known for.

She just stared at herself in disbelief, to the point that her mother had to call her several times to bring her back from daydreaming. After that her mother encouraged her to wear her best clothes and go to Rachel.

As she was walking in the street, she felt a mixture of emotions. She was happy and confident to look so good. But she felt uncomfortable and awkward to visit Rachel again. She didn't really know what to think of the situation, and decided to trust her mother's judgement.


As she reached Rachel's house, she felt very nervous. It was Sunday morning, so Rachel was probably home. She fought with herself a little, but finally brought herself to push a button to ring.

A few seconds later, a voice answered "Yes?".

Lucy recognized Rachels voice. "It's me." she replied nervously.

"Who?" Rachel asked with confusion.

Lucy realized that she was seeing her on a monitor, but probably couldn't recognize her face because of all that make-up, which made her look like a different person.

"I'm Lucy. Can I talk to you?"

"Lucy?! What are you doing here?" Rachel asked with a voice that clearly expressed her surprise.

"I'm sorry to bother you. I just want to talk."

"But why?! I thought I made it clear that..." Rachel didn't finished her sentence. She realized that her voice was being broadcasted outside, loud enough for any passenger to hear it. She didn't want anyone to know about what had happened between her and Lucy.

"Okay, come in." she said as she opened the door for Lucy and went to see her in the garden.

When walking to Lucy, she was amazed by how different and attractive she looked. She could also see shyness and nervousness in her face.

"Hello." Lucy said shyly.

"Hi Lucy. What brings you here?"

"I'm sorry... maybe we should talk."

"About?" Rachel asked with confusion, waiting for Lucy to enlighten her.

"Our relationship."

"What relationship?" Rachel asked, as her voice was unintentionally getting angrier with every word. "I thought I was clear enough about why I approached you yesterday, and you said it yourself that you were okay with it."

"I know, but... I don't know... my mother thought we should speak."

"You told your mother about us?! And she said we should speak?!" Rachel asked, unable to keep her anger and confusion hidden.

"Yes … sorry. It didn't seem right to me... but she was insistent."

"Lucy, you are either lying to me, or you are extremely confused. Tell me exactly what happened."

Lucy looked at Rachel, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. "I... I just wanted to talk to you. My mother thought maybe we could work things out."

"Is that what your mother said?! Are you telling me that she is aware that you came here, and encouraged you to come?!"

Lucy nodded with shame, knowing how ridicules she sounded. She couldn't blame Rachel for not believing her, nor did she had any idea why her mother was so insistent on sending her to Rachel.

There was a moment of awkward silence, until Rachel broke it. "Well Lucy, I don't know what game you are playing, or why would your mother want such a thing. But in case I wasn't clear enough yesterday, I try to make things as clear as possible for you now."

Lucy could predict her next words. Yesterday, she had understood them, and their repetition was only going to hurt her.

"I just thought you were an attractive girl," Rachel said coldly, "I wanted us to spend some intimate time together and enjoy each other. Adults do this all the time. It's not supposed to lead to a serious relationship. Yesterday, when you said you have read a lot of books and told me you have watched certain series on TV, I assumed you were familiar with such a thing. Later, when you asked me straight, and I gave an honest clear answer, I really thought you were intelligent enough to understand that."

Lucy was terribly ashamed. "I'm sorry … I understand." she said with a trembling voice.

"You understand?! You weren't standing here if you could understand."

Rachel realized how hurtful her last sentence must have been to Lucy, who was about to burst into tears, and regretted saying it.

"I'm sorry dear. I shouldn't have said that." Rachel said as she approached Lucy and hugged her. "Let me correct myself: You are fully capable to understand. But since it was your first time, you couldn't accept it. Believe me, I was once like you and couldn't accept such a reality. Try to see what happened yesterday as some kind of practice. You learned what to do in intimacy, and later, when you meet someone who you really love, you can use what you learned to please that special someone."

That comforted Lucy a little. "I'm sorry Rachel. I shouldn't have come here. I won't bother you again." She whispered with a sad voice.

Rachel kissed her forehead and said "It's okay. It only shows that you are sentimental girl, filled with good emotions." and continued "Just one more thing. Any intimate thing that happens between you and another person is private. Don't tell anyone about it, okay? That's the most private part of your life, which you both should keep it to yourselves. So, please don't tell anyone about what has happened between us."

"I won't." Lucy said, as she turned to leave. "Sorry for disturbing you. I'll leave now."

Rachel felt bad for hurting Lucy's feelings. She wanted to change her mood. So, as Lucy was walking out, she put her hand on Lucy's shoulder, smiled and walked with her, asking "Do you need a ride?" only to sound nice, knowing that Lucy wouldn't want it.
"No thanks. I'll walk home. I live nearby."

"By the way, I really like your new look. I thought you looked good yesterday, but this is amazing!"

Lucy smiled, and her beautiful smile made Rachel very happy. She was worried her words might have hurt and stayed with Lucy, so she was happy to escort her out with both of them smiling.

"Thanks. My mother helped me with the make-up. She wanted me to look good for you."

That wiped the smile off Rachel's face immediately.

"So... you were serious when you said you have told your mother about us?!" Rachel asked with a worried voice, as Lucy opened the door.

Before Lucy managed to say anything, she heard her mother shouting "Smile for the camera!", and a flash blinded her.

5

As soon as Lucy came out of the shock and managed to open her eyes, she saw her mother standing there, holding a camera with a mocking smile.

"Mum! What are you doing?!" she shouted in surprise.

"What does it look like?! I just gathered enough evidence to prove a certain woman has been sexually using my daughter; a crime which can put her behind bars for a long time!"

Lucy looked at her mother in disbelief. "Mum, that's not true! Rachel is my friend. We just talked."


"I don't think so. I saw all those hickeys on you last night. So did your father. Besides, what can you possibly have to talk about?! She is a child molester!"

"Excuse me?!" Rachel asked in surprise and anger.

"You heard me. I'll sue you for what you have done. You took my daughter to your house twice. Now, I have evidence, and I can make you pay for what you did!"

Rachel couldn't believe her ears. She looked at Lucy, who was standing there with tears in her eyes, and realized what was going on.


"She is not a child," Rachel yelled, "and you are the one who sent her here. You helped her with the make-up, and told her to come to me. Why would you do that if you really believed that your daughter could have been molested?!”

"I never helped her with any make-up", Lucy's mother responded with the same mocking smile, "and I didn't send her here either. She came on her own will. You must have tricked her to come here again."

"But Mum," Lucy cried, "You did it! You told me I should look good for Rachel! You told me to come here despite I didn't want to!"


"Shut up you retarded brat!" her mother shouted with anger. "You can't even understand what is going on around you."

Lucy was stunned. She couldn't believe her mother would say such a thing. She tried to speak, but no words came out.

Rachel, on the other hand, was furious. "You are disgusting," she yelled at Lucy's mother. "You knew exactly what you were doing. You manipulated your own daughter for your own twisted reasons. You are no better than a child predator yourself!"

"I'll show this picture to the police." Lucy's mother said as she grabbed her daughter's hand hard. "You can say whatever you want to them too. We'll see who they'll believe. I don't think you are ignorant enough to have any hope to convince them. I may also visit your workplace and let them know what kind of person they are working with."

Lucy felt like she was about to faint. Her head was spinning, and she couldn't breathe properly. She tried to say something, but her throat was closing up.

The mother didn't wait for Rachel to respond. She dragged Lucy away with force.

Rachel was afraid the ruckus may attract unwanted attention, so she didn't continue either and went back inside.

After a minute, Lucy managed to talk again.

"Mum! What are you doing? Why did you do that? You told me to come here!"

"Stupid girl! Why did you think I told you that? Just shut up. You don't understand."

Lucy's mother continued dragging her away, not caring about her daughter's protests. She dragged her home, and despite her cries and begging, didn't bother to answer her questions.

When they got home, Lucy's father was waiting for them. He ignored Lucy as usual, and asked his wife "How was everything?"

"All according to the plan." she answered. Her voice and face expressed a big success.

6

Lucy was thrown in her room. No matter how much she begged, her parents refused to tell what was going on. She tried to explain that nothing had happened with Rachel that day, but they didn't care and were not willing to listen. She was forbidden from leaving the house, and her parents confined her to her room.

Several days passed. Lucy could tell that something was going on. She heard her parents having angry conversations on phone. But since they kept her door closed and never explained anything, she couldn't tell what was happening.

Her parents even locked her inside when they left the house together, which happened more often after what happened with Rachel.


She could barely eat anything and spent the nights thinking and crying. The situation was becoming unbearable. She regretted what had happened with Rachel, and blamed herself for dragging Rachel down with her. She really wanted to see her, apologize and cut her out of her life before damaging her even further, but that was not possible.

Lucy no longer saw any point in continuing her life. It had become meaningless. She was being hurt, and saw herself as someone who was hurting the others. She believed she was the source of all problems and felt the others will feel good if she disappears. She decided she will not talk to strangers anymore, and not have any interaction with them at all. That sounded like the only way she could avoid being hurt by them and also hurting them.


She remained home, sad and desperate, not knowing what was going on, and decided to give up on the world.

But one day, the door to her room was suddenly opened. "Get up and gather your things!" her mother ordered, as she began to collect Lucy's belongings without any permission."What are you waiting for? Get up right now!" she continued.

"What's going on? Why should I gather my things?"

"You are going away. You are a grown woman now, so it's time to live independently."

"But where would I go?" Lucy asked desperately, "I have nowhere to live."


"Yes you do. You'll live with Rachel. You love each other, remember? So, why not live together?"

"But that's not possible! Last time I went there... you tricked me... I'm not going back there! I promised Rachel that I won't bother her again! I'll never go there!"

"Fine! Go where ever you want! Just don't come back. I'm changing the lock after you leave, and won't let you in if you return."

Lucy was shocked and scared. Her worst nightmare was becoming true. She couldn't move and stared at her mother as she gathered her things in haste.

"You have one hour to get out of this house. And don't think of coming back. I've had enough of your drama. You're an adult now, and it's time for you to live by yourself." her mother said with an indifferent voice, scaring Lucy even further.

Seeing the determination of her mother, Lucy finally believed what was happening was real, and not an empty threat. She barely managed to put some clothes on. She wanted to beg, and would have begged, but knew there was no point in it. Her parents wanted to get rid of her at any cost. They had already proved it. There was no hope in resisting them.


Her mother put her things in the trunk of his father's car, with the father already waiting to drive. She ordered Lucy to get in, and sat on the front seat herself.

His father started the car and began driving. Lucy begged her parents to stop one last time, but they didn't even bother to answer her cries.

A few minutes later, they were by Rachel's door. The mother dragged Lucy out of the car, put her things outside in haste, got back in the car, and they just left. Lucy was still in shock. Her whole world had turned upside down in such a short time, but she had no explanation, and didn't know what to do. She was standing in the street, clueless, afraid and confused.

She thought about pushing the ring button to call Rachel, but that scared her. She had promised Rachel not to bother her anymore, so she couldn't bring herself to ask her if she can come inside, not just for a short while, but to live with her permanently. She was ashamed to even think of that.


Lucy began to feel nauseated, just like the time a woman had threatened to call the police on her in a park years ago. She remembered that memory, and wished she could just disappear and cease to exist at once. She was faced with every problem imaginable, but had no explanation, nor did she have the slightest idea of what to do.

She remained in that state for a few minutes, barely managing to stay up on her feet, until she heard a noise and Rachel opened the door. Her face expression was indifferent, and somewhat displeased. "Come in." she said coldly, as she turned to get back inside her house.

Lucy gathered her things and followed her, not knowing what is going on. Inside, she saw Rachel in the leaving room, sitting on a sofa, with her hands stretched on the top, and her feet on a table.

"I'm sorry Rachel. I didn't want to come here. My parents brought me. I don't know why. They left me outside. I don't want to bother you." she said with a trembling voice.

Rachel didn't react. She remained silent, as if she was thinking about something unpleasant.


"I don't know what happened." Lucy continued with desperation. "My parents said I'm not allowed in the house anymore... they dropped me outside... I will leave if you want!"

Rachel turned her head to look at her. She seemed angry, which frightened Lucy.

"They didn't tell you, did they?" Rachel asked.

"Tell me what?"

"Oh my dear, it's not your fault. Sit down. You look pale. You may want to be seated while you hear this, otherwise you might hit the floor as you faint."

Lucy sat in front of her, frightened and shaking, as Rachel began talking.

"I'm going to give you the short version of what has happened. I'll try to make it as simple as possible for you to understand, okay? So please listen carefully."

Lucy listened to her, hoping to understand what was going on.


"Your parents threatened to sue me and ruin my career by telling everyone that I had molested you. They said the only thing which could stop them from doing so was me accepting your custodianship. So, yeah... you have no parents anymore, and I'm the person who is obliged to take care of you. Can you believe that?"

Lucy couldn't believe what she had just heard. Her world had turned upside down once again. She felt like she was drowning, and there was no one who could save her. She felt like an object which was being toyed around, with no saying in her destiny.

"But why did they do that?", she asked, still in shock. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

"I know you didn't do anything wrong. So do they. They just don't want you around anymore. That's all."

Lucy was dumbfounded. She couldn't believe what Rachel had just said. Her parents had never loved her, but she had always thought there was some kind of affection there, even if it was twisted. But now, she realized they had never cared for her at all. They had just kept her like an object, and now they had thrown her away like a piece of trash.

"I know that's hard to accept Lucy," Rachel said with a cold voice, "but if it makes you feel any better, try to imagine how I feel about it. That way you may not feel so miserable after all."

Lucy stayed silent. She just sat there, looking at her hands, feeling the tears forming in her eyes. She didn't know what to say, or what to think. Her whole world had crumbled around her, and there was nothing left to hold on to.

"You know what the worst part is for me?" Rachel continued with a bitter smile, "I thought I was clever. I thought I was good at taking advantage of weaknesses I found in other people. But I finally got taken advantage of. And by who? A young girl with down syndrome, who I thought I could easily lure her into bed, and her parents."

"But I never wanted to take advantage of you!" Lucy cried as she stood up, "I didn't want any of this... I leave now. I won't bother you."

"Sweetie, did you even listen to what I said?" Rachel asked with the same bitter smile. "I'm your custodian now. I have to watch you and take care of your needs. If you leave, I must find you, otherwise I would be held responsible for anything which may happen to you. So, unless you want to cause me trouble, sit down."

Lucy sat down again, feeling helpless and confused. She didn't know what to do. Her parents had abandoned her, and now she was stuck with a woman who didn't want her either. She felt like a lost soul, drifting aimlessly in a cruel world.

"But there was only one good thing about all these." Rachel continued. "I really thought I'm the worst kind of person, always trying to abuse the others. But your parents proved me wrong. So, at least I can feel a little better about myself!"

That was a dark joke. Lucy would have probably found it funny in a different situation, but she was in no mood to laugh at jokes.

Realizing Lucy had no idea of what to say or do, Rachel said "So, make yourself at home. This is your new home. I only set one rule. You should do whatever I say. Do that, and I promise to keep your best interests in mind. Do you think you can manage that?"

Lucy remained silent for a while, and then said "Yes. I will do whatever you say. Thanks for letting me stay with you."

"You don't have to thank me for letting you to stay, I'm obligated by the law to keep you here."

"But my parents were not obligated. They were going to throw me out before... and locked me outside several times... until I did what they wanted."

"Oh sweetie! They were fooling you. They did all those things to scare you. They couldn't leave you outside. They were obligated to take care of you as much as I am. You could have even reported them to the police if they hurt you, which I believe they did."

Lucy looked at Rachel, her eyes wide with disbelief. She realized that Rachel was telling the truth, and she was abused for years, not knowing that she had rights.

Rachel wanted to change the mood, so she continued, "Enough with the sad talk. Let's help you to get settled. After that, we should prepare something for lunch. Do you know how to cook?"

Lucy was relieved to hear that, and eagerly responded "Yes, sometimes I did the cooking at house."

"Good. Because I expect you to help me with the housework. "

"I will. I did it a lot at my parents' house. I'll do whatever you want."

Rachel helped Lucy to place her things in a room. The room she guided Lucy to was filled with sport equipment. The house was large, so there was no shortage of place. They put all that equipment on one side, and Lucy placed her belonging on the other side.

"You can choose what you want to do in your free time." Rachel said. "You can read, watch TV or exercise with the equipment. Just keep it down and don't bother me when I don't want to. Also, remember that you should get my permission if you want to leave the house and you must let me know where you are going and when you'll be back. You can go wherever you want in the house except my bedroom, which you need my permission to enter."

Lucy nodded, still feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything that had happened. She unpacked her clothes and personal items, trying to find a place for everything. As she arranged her things, she couldn't help but feel grateful for Rachel's kindness, even though she didn't always show it. It was better than being locked outside or living with her parents.

When they were done, Rachel asked her to follow her to the kitchen to prepare lunch together. One thing was still bothering Lucy. She asked "Rachel, if someone asks, what should I say about us? I mean how we are related."

Rachel's face expression became a little sad. "I don't know," said Rachel, "I'm still thinking about it. I'll figure out something."

Lucy didn't press the matter further. She knew Rachel was still trying to process everything that had happened. They started preparing lunch together in the kitchen. Rachel showed her how to use the stove and oven, and they cooked some chicken and vegetables for lunch. As they worked together, Lucy felt a sense of normalcy returning to her life. Rachel was also pleased to see Lucy can be helpful and was acting mature and responsibly.

After lunch, Rachel suggested they should watch some TV together to relax. They went to the living room. Rachel sat on a sofa. Lucy was about to sit away, but Rachel pointed at the place beside her, indicating that she wanted Lucy to sit beside her. When she sat, Rachel put her arm around Lucy's shoulders, and kissed her forehead.

"We'll figure something out. It's still possible to make the best out of a bad situation. Just be a good girl, and do as I say, okay?"

Lucy nodded, still feeling grateful for Rachel's kindness. As they watched TV together, she found herself beginning to relax a little. The feeling of being accepted and cared for was new and strange, but somehow comforting. They laughed at a funny show and ate some snacks. Rachel even let her pick what they watched, which made her feel even more special.

After some time, Rachel felt a serious conversation may help her to know Lucy better. "What's your dream Lucy? I mean, what is it that you really want to do with your life?"

Lucy began thinking. She had something in mind, but had never thought about it as something other than fantasy. "I want to be a model... you know... fashion and that stuff. I know my mental capacity is limited, because of Down syndrome... but that doesn't require much thinking... it's more about acting... and I also like to feel accepted... and normal... but that may be impossible... because of my condition... and eyes."

"What about your eyes?" Rachel asked with curiosity.

"There are dark puffy spots under them, and they show my condition."

"But that’s not a big deal. You look beautiful, and there are ways to hide those spots, or remove them permanently with a little light surgery."

"You mean, I can look normal?!" Lucy asked with excitement. "Permanently?!"

Rachel was surprised to see how excited Lucy was. "Yes," she answered, "It's not something complicated. I can arrange it if you want."

Lucy froze and stared at Rachel for a few seconds, then she asked "Will you?" with a trembling voice.

Rachel realized how important that was for Lucy, and answered "Of course. As I said, it's not a big deal, your eyes are..." before she finished her sentence, Lucy Hugged her and started crying.

Rachel had no idea how much Lucy cared about the subject. "Oh dear! Oh dear! What happened? Why are you crying?"

"My eyes," Lucy tried to explain while she was still crying, "they show I have Down syndrome. People treat me like a monster when they know it. I just want to be normal... or at least seem normal. If my eyes turn normal, people don't treat me like that anymore."

"I'm sorry if some people have treated you like that. But you shouldn't feel bad for their stupidity or cruelty. Your appearance doesn't define you."

Rachel hugged Lucy and continued "We'll fix your eyes, but not for those fools. We’ll do it to make you look even better and help you to become a model. I also know a few people in the fashion business. I can talk to them and see what can be done."

"Thanks," Lucy said crying, "you are the best."

When it was bedtime, Rachel felt sorry since Lucy had to sleep on the floor. She had a mattress, but no bed. "Would you like to sleep in my bed with me dear?" she asked, "It’s more comfortable."

Lucy was surprised. But she didn’t want to bother Rachel. “I … I … don’t think that’s a good idea. I usually sweat a lot, unintentionally talk while I’m asleep, and I move a lot. Sometimes I even see nightmares and wake up screaming … so … you probably wouldn’t feel comfortable with me.”

Rachel realized that Lucy had felt nervous, sad and threatened all her life, and as a result, she had problem sleeping at nights, but it was time to change that.

“It’s okay. I don’t mind. I would be happy if you join me. And don’t worry. I won’t act like a predator anymore.”

Lucy was surprised by her offer and accepted it. She got into her PJ and joined Rachel in her bed. They snuggled together. Rachel kissed Lucy’s forehead, and said “I’m sorry I saw you as an object the first time. You are much more than that.”

Lucy went to sleep in Rachel’s arms. She didn’t sweat, moved or screamed that night. For the first time in her life, she had slept knowing that she was safe and with someone who cared about her.

Rachel stared at Lucy’s innocent face for a long time. She realized how much she had missed by stepping on the others and not caring about anything but herself. Taking care of Lucy made her feel better about herself, and she was happy to have such a lovely person with her.

7

The surgery went well. When the puff on her face died down after a few days, Lucy looked like a completely different person. Unlike her previous face, which aside from Down syndrome, expressed nervousness, weakness and sadness, the new face expressed confidence, strength and happiness.

She was eager to let the world know that she is the same person, and the only thing which had prevented the others from seeing her true personality and capabilities, was their wrong assumptions. Her appearance mattered, but mostly to show everyone that their assumptions were wrong. People could have seen her beautiful face and kind behavior first and then learned about her disability, and that made them question their assumptions about people with learning disability.

Rachel spoke to some Influential people in the fashion industry. When they saw how beautiful Lucy was, they were not only happy, but eager to welcome her, and she quickly made a name for herself and started a successful and well-paying career as a model.


Rachel also managed to improve Lucy's legal status. Her parents had considered her completely unable to make any decision, and therefore she was equal to an immature child according to the law. But after a few medical and psychological tests which Rachel arranged, she was accepted as a responsible mature person, able to make most decisions for herself.

Aside from paying for her needs with her own money, Lucy used her newly gained wealth to support various charities and awareness of Down syndrome among students. She gave lectures for young students and explained what learning disability is like, and how people with such a disability should be treated.


Lucy continued to live with Rachel, but not as a person who needed Rachel's custodianship, but as her lover. Rachel too changed her views and purposes in life. She was no longer the selfish person who was willing to sacrifice other people for her own benefit. Being with Lucy had changed her. She was now happy to help the others, and had realized the positive change taking care of Lucy had left in her own life.

During one of her lectures for school students, Lucy told them about the terrible experience she had with a woman at a park, when that woman had thought Lucy was hurting her daughter, while she was in fact helping her. She explained that such reactions were results of wrong assumptions. The students found her experience moving and shared her lecture online.


After a while, the woman who had beaten her at the park showed up along with her daughter. She apologized to Lucy, and explained she had seen that lecture and realized the mistake she had made that day. Lucy forgave her, hugged her daughter and they took a picture together, which demonstrated the changes they had went through since then.

Lucy's life continued to improve, and she became an inspiration to many people around the world. Her story of overcoming hardships and finding love and acceptance was shared far and wide, and she used her platform to advocate for not only those with Down syndrome, but also for anyone facing discrimination or hardship.

She preferred not to see her birth parents and not even know about them, since it could bring back her bad memories. But when she learned that they had received large amounts of money from different charities, with the promise to spend it on her well-being and education, but had spent that money for themselves, she wrote to those charities and asked them to be more careful and spend their funds responsibly.

Her confidence and happiness opened new doors in her life. She learnt how to do things she couldn't imagine doing them a while ago, to the degree that other people didn't notice her disability, and were surprised to learn she had Down syndrome later.

While not able to fully get away from her disability, Lucy learned that when she is surrounded by people who love her and care about her, she doesn't need to worry. Whenever she faced a problem she couldn't fix or something she couldn't understand, she could have asked Rachel or her lawyer about it, and they were happy to help. As a result, not understanding or inability to do certain things didn't mean mental pressure, humiliation or getting stuck in a dead end.

Lucy's new life didn't only bring happiness to her. It also inspired many others. Her success in the fashion industry showed that people with disabilities could achieve great things if given the chance. She received numerous awards and accolades for her work.

Rachel, who had initially seen Lucy as a burden, found herself working alongside her, not only as her partner, but also as her agent. Their relationship continued to blossom, and they even decided to adopt a child together. They wanted to give a loving home to a child who might otherwise have faced the same struggles that Lucy had.

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