The girl stood in the garden, gazing at a bird who hopped from spot to spot, pecking at bugs in the weeds. She often wondered what it would be like to be a bird.
“This garden will not harvest itself,” her father said without looking at her.
Their garden was small, and the soil too rocky, but somehow they grew a few vegetables to supplement the fish they caught in their pond.
The girl always wondered how her father was certain she was daydreaming instead of working. As far as she knew, he barely ever looked at her at all.
His back stiffened when she sniffled and his words were harsh. “Quit being so damn sensitive and do your work.”
The girl did her best to stifle any tears that might flow. It would do her no good to get her father upset. She’d learned that lesson the hard way many years ago.
“Get some water and make sure you get the vegetables good.”
At once, she grabbed the bucket and hurried to the pond before he could yell at her again. At the edge of the water, she stared at her reflection. She had fiery hair just like her dad. That was the only feature that stood out in the gently rippling water.
She had never seen the blue of her eyes or the rosiness in her cheeks.
Forgetting all about the water she was supposed to fetch, she smiled a little as a group of butterflies flitted about. It was like they were putting on a show only for her.
She liked vibrant colors like the butterflies, the flowers, and her old, yellow shirt with a hole in the back.
Her favorite color was bright, bright pink.
After finally getting the sloshing bucket to the garden and finishing her chores, she wandered off. But not too far.
She wasn’t allowed beyond the forest. Once in a while, she tried to think about what might be on the other side of the thick trees and rolling hills. She’d never been away from home before, so her imagination was limited.
She was just a girl who didn’t know anything different than her home, the hard life she had, and her father. She didn’t even know her life was hard. It was just… life.
Father was a shadow of the man he once was. Pale, gaunt, and broken. Once motivated by the need to protect the girl, now, he clung to her to keep himself safe.
The girl sat in her chair as Father lit a fire. She had to be careful how she sat because one leg was loose. She wished she had long pants because when she stood, the flaking paint chipped off and stuck to the backs of her legs and itched.
This was the worst part of the day for the girl. Once the fire was lit, Father would blow out the lanterns. The little shack would be drenched in shadows and she would crawl to the spot furthest from the door and unroll her sleeping bag that smelled like mildew. The plywood floor was hard but it was all she’d ever known.
She wanted to sleep by the warm fire but Father wouldn’t allow it. He wanted her far from the door in case anyone barged in. The way he spoke about “them” filled the girl with dread. She hoped “they” would stay far away because “they” would harm her and her father.
The only assurance she had was that Father slept nearest to the door on a couch he’d made from discarded milk crates. He would tell her again how dangerous the world was and how there were “others” who would do anything they could to hurt her.
Then he would remind her that as long as she was with him, she would be safe.
She only hoped the night would soon be over.
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This is a terrible, terrible situation for her to be in! The damage that has been done to her is unconscionable. Jem has completely lost touch with any and every kind of reality. Someone needs to find her before something even more tragic happens.
You’re right about Jem and how he’s lost touch with reality. Hopefully, there is still a chance she will be found. And, if she is, that she will eventually live a normal life.
He messed up. They need to bring this girl home ASAP
That’s a fact! 🙂
So, so twisted D:
Indeed! 😀
He is one sick puppy! I hope he can get help. So sad for Kara though, but I’ve known kids who have been through worse and come out fine, but they had siblings to buffer it. There’s hope.
Thank you, Jolie. He sure is! That’s good to know about the kids you know. I think there’s hope, too.
He cannot help Kara to have a sane mind, he’ll killing her dignity and she’ll suffer in the future.
Thank you 🙂 Hopefully, she will be found will recover under the care of her family.
I hope so but it takes a very long time.
Yes, you are right about that. It’s going to be a huge a adjustment.
I’m so sad she can’t remember a life before this. She was too young. But now the isolation means Jem can control her whole life and make her totally dependent on him. ☹
Thank you, Heather. You’re right in everything you say. Hopefully, if she’s found, she can get along in society with her family.
Such a sweet baby
Thank you, Lisa 💗💗
Oh dear… I was at least expecting Jem to treat his daughter like this precious little girl that she is, but no. That man is insane and – of course we already knew that – completely unfit to raise a child! My heart breaks for poor Kara :'( I really hope someone will find her soon!
Thank you so much. My heart breaks for her, too. She’s become a source of pain for her father and I think he wasn’t expecting that at all.
Poor girl… She deserves much better than this. Hopefully she’ll be found soon!
Thank you, Raymond. You’re so right! I hope she will be, too.
“It would do her no good to get her father upset. She’d learned that lesson the hard way many years ago.”
Ummmm, what the HECK does that mean?!
Thank you, Jess. That’s a good question!
Aw, poor girl. I’m sorry that’s the life Jem forced her to live. The longer she lives in the forest, the harder it will be for her to adapt to life in a society.
Thank you, Jowita. It’s beyond terrible what Jem has done. I agree with what you say about reintegrating into society. It’s going to be difficult for her.
Poor, poor Kara. This is such a tragedy. Jem is a terrible father to her. 🙁 Hopefully she gets to go back to her family, sooner rather than later.
Thank you, Louise. I hope she gets home soon, too. Jem is a terrible father, it’s true. I think this hasn’t gone how he imagined. And now, Kara is paying the price.
She’s going to be okay. She’s got nature and spirit to whisper to her and keep her connected to beauty. This will give her resilience and keep her from getting broken, I feel. The real challenges will come when it’s time to reintegrate with the larger world! Thankfully, she’ll still be able to find butterflies there, too, even when the other kids at school are mean because she’s so different.
Thank you, CT. I like the point you made here and I think you are right about it all. I think she will possess an inner strength her peers know nothing about.
Awww, I was hoping that at least she would be in a good spot, her only worry wondering about her mother. 🙁
Thank you so much. I can totally understand how you feel. Hopefully, she’ll be reunited with her mother soon.
Wonder how that will go, considering she does not know her at all now. 🙁 Sad about Jem. What a downhill slope. Not sure there is a coming back from that.
I doubt there is any coming back from that, too. As for meeting her mother, you’re absolutely right about that. It would be like meeting a stranger.
In the beginning one would never have thought Jem would turn to hating his own daughter. Especially when he took his daughter away, I’m sure from a place of love to keep her safe. So Jem has gone bonkers. Oh the psychological trauma this beautiful girl is going thru!
Thank you, Bee. You’re so right. I think Jem has developed a kind of resentment toward Kara. Whatever it is, she needs to come home. 🙂
I think he just can’t bear to look at her because she reminds him of everything… she, simply by being and looking like her mom, wakes the forgotten nagging voice in him that he’s seriously messed up.
I agree, CT. I think you’re on the right track here regarding Jem and his relationship with Kara.
How sad! I hope they find her soon and take her away from him. She doesn’t need to be in that type of environment. Poor Kara. 🙁
Thank you, Stormy. I hope for that, too. It’s not a good environment for her at all.
My heart is breaking for her…..Jem is crazy and has lost touch with reality. 😢😢😢
Thank you, Audrey. You’re right about Jem. I hope Kara can come home to Bea and her family soon.