Girl.(Stephen Pearmine) A new short story.


The year was 1973.
They left the building disappointed. The man in his early twenties cuddled his wife while she cried in his arms.
"Come on, love. Let's head home," he said, knowing there was nothing else he could do. He was heartbroken for both of them.
Between tears, she replied, "Why is God punishing us? All I want is a little baby to care for and to love. Is that too much to ask?"
He couldn't take it anymore. "But we still have each other, and you know I love you more than life itself." His eyes became wet.
She looked up at him, touching the side of his face. "Let's head home, shall we," she said sadly.
Both made their way to the car.
...................
15 years later.
There had been a bad storm for two hours, and it didn't look like it was letting up. The winds blew with a vengeance and the rain was heavy, which caused terrible flooding. Anne peered out of the window at the chaos ahead. The little road in front was hard to see. She felt a hand on her left shoulder, then a man's voice said, "It'll soon be over with, my love. Come on, let's sit down near the open fire where it's nice and warm."
She turned to him and smiled. "Yes, my love."

Within a minute, they sat arm in arm on the sofa in front of the fire. Jim kissed the top of her head. "I love you."
Anne stroked his hand softly. "I love you too."

She must have fallen asleep as a terrific bang from outside woke her up with a start. "What was that, Jim?" she asked, looking all about her. He stood at the window and Anne joined him. "What was that?" she asked again, worried.
Where they lived it was very isolated. The nearest town was seven miles away and, since the storm had hit, their phone lines were down and at the moment there was no way of getting in touch with anyone if something happened.
Jim then said in a serious tone, "I'll take a look outside to see what that noise was. Maybe it was a tree falling down?"
She grabbed his shoulder. "Be careful, Jim."
He turned to her. "I'll be back in a flash, I promise. First I need my light."
Jim proceeded to the kitchen and in one of the higher cupboards was the torch. He grabbed it, then headed to the front door. "See you in a minute, my love. I won't be long."
"Okay, be safe," was all she answered.

Within a minute, Jim appeared at the door looking alarmed. "Down the road about forty meters away there is a car, it looks like it's crashed into one of the trees. I might need your help, love. Is that okay?"
"Let me get my coat," she replied.

Even though it was hard to see much through the pouring rain, they both proceeded towards the vehicle. The front of it was badly damaged. This wasn't looking good. Finally, they'd made it. Jim shone the torch through the front window and the first thing he saw was the driver. The man's face pressed against the steering wheel. Blood was everywhere. With shock, Jim noticed the man's eyes were wide open and lifeless. He froze at the sight of it, but a noise all of a sudden was heard from the backseat. He shone the light in that direction. A girl of about 10 stared back at him, petrified as can be. Jim tried the door and, like a miracle, it opened. He undid her seat-belt, then checked her for injuries. She seemed unharmed. He carefully removed her from the vehicle, shielding her eyes from the man in the driver's seat. When the three of them were a few meters away from the car, Jim bent down to her and said, "We live just up there, it's nice and warm and if you're hungry we have plenty of food. Come on, my love. It's safer in there."
The three of them proceeded towards the house.

Once inside, they all sat in front of the fire. Anne said to the girl, "Would you like a drink and something to eat?"
There was no reply. The girl looked traumatised, which wasn't surprising. Anne placed a hand softly on the girl's shoulder and she flinched.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," she said apologetically.
The girl's face was very pale.
Anne felt so sorry for her. In this situation it was hard to know what to do. She had an idea. "Do you feel tired? We have a bed upstairs if you'd like a little sleep."
The girl replied without making eye contact. "Yes, please."
Anne got up and offered her hand to the child. "I'll show you where the bedroom is if you like."
The girl took her hand and said, "Thank you."
They made their way up the stairs. Jim watched them and sadness was felt.

Once they were in the bedroom, the girl sat on the side of the single bed. Anne bent down to her. "Would you like something more comfortable to wear while you're in bed?"
The girl for the first time looked at her, nodding, meaning yes.
Anne walked to a cabinet where in the top drawer were babies and children's clothes. She'd bought them years ago while her and Jim were trying for children. She never had the heart to get rid of them. Jim understood. Even to this day, Anne was still heartbroken about it. All their friends had children. It seemed so unfair. Inside the drawer she picked out white pajamas with pink flowers on them. A tear came to her eye. Anne put the pajamas down on the bed beside the girl.
"Would you like me to leave the room while you put them on, my love?" she asked.
The girl answered. "Could you help me please."
Anne gave her a smile. "Of course I can, sweetheart."
....................
Jim was deep in thought about what to do next when Anne came down the stairs with a concerned look on her face. "What's wrong, Anne? Did the girl go to sleep okay?"
She sat down beside him. From her trouser pocket she took out a piece of tissue and wiped her eyes.
How could he have been so foolish? The child being here has reminded her of many years ago when they tried having children themselves without success. "I'm so sorry, my love. I can imagine this is very difficult for you."
She looked at him upset. "It's not just that, Jim. When I changed her into some nice pajamas thinking it would be more comfortable for her, especially after everything she's been through tonight, I noticed bruising on her upper arms and stomach area. When I asked her how this had happened, thinking it might be from the accident, she told me her dad would hit her sometimes when he was drunk. Poor, poor child."
Jim was stunned. He couldn't believe it. "Where's her mother while all this was happening?"
"She died when the poor girl was seven. This is when her dad started drinking heavily and becoming violent towards her. Such a sad story."
"Yes, indeed," was all he said, quite shocked by the whole thing.

For the next half an hour, both sat in silence, then Anne got up.
Jim peered up at her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I thought I'd just check up on the child, see if she wants a drink or anything."
Jim smiled at her. "Good idea. Is there anything I can do to help?"
She bent down and kissed him on the forehead. "I should be okay. I won't be long."

The child was sound asleep as she entered. A little lamp stood on a nearby cabinet which caused a faint glow in the room. Quietly, Anne pulled up a chair from the other side of the room to the bed and sat down. Yet again she thought back to years ago and the sadness that came with it. The tears then came.
"Are you okay?" said a faint voice.
It was the little girl. The moment their eyes met, the child smiled.
Anne wiped her eyes with her hand. "Yes, I'm fine. My husband and I tried to have children a long time ago, but something always went wrong. It's just me being silly."
The girl then answered innocently enough, "I don't think you're silly, I think you're lovely, like my mummy was. I miss my mummy a lot."
"I know you do, sweetheart. And thank you, you're such a sweet girl for saying that." Anne cuddled her softly. This time she didn't flinch.
Anne thought she'd read her a bedtime story, because she might enjoy it, and before long the girl was asleep again.
Then she left the room quietly.
...................
The next morning the storm had past. Anne and Jim had kept watch on the child all night, not getting much sleep themselves. The girl awoke around 7am still a little disoriented.

Jim rang the police as soon as he could to tell them about the accident and the child. By 9am the police had turned up and by 10am the road was clear. Just before eleven, social services knocked at their door to take the girl to a safe place.

Anne and Jim were sad to see her go.
"What will happen to her, Jim?" she asked, worried.
"Foster care, maybe? I'm not really sure," he replied sadly.
"I wish she could've stayed with us, I really do," Anne said. "Poor girl deserves something better than this."
Jim put a loving arm around her. "Come on, my love. Maybe there's something we can do after all."
She looked at him bewildered. "What are you talking about, Jim?"
"You'll see," was all he answered.
...................
6 years later.
It was the last exam at school for their daughter, Bernadette. Anne and Jim were so proud of her and everything she'd accomplished over the years, especially with what had happened to her and how she'd overcome it. Her grades were excellent, and the teachers would always remark on what a model pupil she was. She had many friends and life couldn't have been better.

The moment she walked through the door, her parents were there to greet her.
"Hi, mum, hi, dad. No more exams for me," she said while laughing.
Anne cuddled her proudly. "I'm so lucky to have you as a daughter. The moment you came into our lives, I've never looked back. You do know how special you are to us, don't you, sweetheart, and now you've got your whole life ahead of you with whatever you choose to do with it."
Bernadette wiped her eyes with her hand. "You're going to make me cry, mum. Oh my God."
Anne replied, "I've made your favourite meal tonight, it'll be ready in about an hour, sweetheart."
Bernadette looked pleased about that. "Thanks, mum. Sounds lovely."
She ran up the stairs as excited as could be.
Jim and Anne then made their way into the kitchen area with smiles on both their faces.


The End.

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