In that era, people abandoned baby daughter, just tiny bundle, carelessly thrown on ground. Even rats scurried nearby. She barely larger than those rodents, seemingly on verge of swallowed by darkness. over and scooped up.
Under moonlight, stopped crying. She opened eyes wide and gazed at me—unblinking. carried home.
In those days, survival hard for single mother with daughter. Thus, very household I’d tried escape. Late that husband came showed him baby, tentatively 'Can we keep her? Be stared at me with same feral hunger I’d seen in rats’ eyes. Though he agreed, that he brutalized me more viciously, forced cloth strips into abdomen pregnancy.
Everyone believed biologically ours. This suited husband—it hid impotence.
Under care, blossomed into chubby-cheeked toddler. She’d throw arms around neck, plant sticky kisses on cheek, and lisp, 'Mama, wuv you SO MUCH!' heart melted. How such angelic exist?
Yet husband dared her. Drunk one he stormed in cursing. I’d learned hustle girl doll in arms before facing 'Whore! Ignoring me—got His impotence bred paranoia. A slap cracked face. yanked hair, skull against wall, ranting about infidelity.
Then charged in. Tiny but she clung leg 'Stop hurting Mama!' Without hesitation, he kicked airborne. wails grabbed ankles and—before intervene—slammed headfirst into floor.
The hospital vigil blurred doctor said, 'She’ll recover.' Only did breathe 'You’re lucky,' he chided. 'This could’ve been fatal.'
Clutching daughter, sobbed ribs ached. That as she slept hospitalized, made decision.
We home father’s sneer: 'Finally back?' quiet carried resolve.
Soon providence answered—my husband in tub. Authorities called it accidental, but accused Let them. I’d never reveal how filled that tub, massaged temples, soothed him sleep, watched him slide beneath water.
To world, asleep with when 'found' Police arrived trembling child. 'Hush,' crooned, 'Mama’s here.' Never again would we fear abuse.
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[Epilogue: Daughter’s Perspective]
I’ve known I’m adopted overhearing rages. thinks she hid it, but pieced it abandoned infant, rats, rescue. fierce: when bully targeted me, stalked screaming, 'Harm girl again, I’ll your son Others fear temper. Not is armor. Even against him.
