by
Shelley L. Moss
Mandy’s heart pounded
with exertion. Branches
stung her face, and tears
streamed down her cheeks
falling to the ground. Each
tear seemed to well up from
her very soul, and each
one held a valuable memory
she knew she would never
forget. Mandy ran as fast
as her tiny legs could take
her, refusing to look back
as droplets of blood fell
with each frantic step she
took. Her vision obscured
by dense brush, Mandy was
very nearly overcome by
fear of uncertain future.
A gentle voice in her ear
brought her to a halt. “Find
the flower little one.”
Mandy recognized the voice
and quickly turned to look
behind her, but no one was
to be found. With all the
strength she could muster,
Mandy raced through the
brush with her mothers voice
lingering in the air.
Briers tore at her dress,
as thorns scrapped a crossed
her gentle skin with eyes
combing through the thick
forest. After a short while,
hopes of finding her mother
began to dwindle away. The
thirsty ground beneath Mandy’s
feet continued to absorb
each precious drop of blood,
while her journey took her
deeper into the woods. As
darkness swallowed the forest,
new sounds began echoing
throughout the darkness
from its evening creatures.
Each sound sent tingles
down Mandy’s spine
as she blindly moved forward.
Her steps became fewer as
weakness took over leaving
her frightened and helpless.
Each breath became a struggle
as a cry of plea escaped
from Mandy’s soul
rising above the tallest
of trees. Broken and weary,
Mandy came to rest upon
a huge oak tree. Crying
frantically Mandy pulled
her knees toward her chest
with head hung low in fear
of what the darkness might
hold.
Soon, the night air became
chilled as the evening creatures
crept all around Mandy unknowingly.
As her body heat began to
dwindle so did the battle
to keep her eyes open. Lost
in a dream of an open field
with flowers of many colors
Mandy’s body began
to rest as she saw herself
walking behind her mother.
The sun was in all her glory
warming Mandy’s skin
as she picked her favorite
flowers to put in her basket.
The wind blew gently as
the invigorating aroma poured
from the hearts of each
flower, sweeping across
the field towards Mandy
who openly welcomed the
familiar scent. Looking
towards the sky, Mandy began
to play the cloud game with
her mother.
“Mother, I see a bear
in the sky” she says
giggling.
Searching, her mother said,
“Oh yes! so do I Mandy,
but I also see an angel
in the sky, do you see her
too Mandy?”
“Oh Mama there she
is! and she is so lovely.”
Without warning, the skies
became dark and the clouds
where no more. Frantic,
Mandy looked down from the
monstrous sky needing to
feel her mother next to
her, but her mother was
nowhere to be seen. Suddenly,
Mandy woke up in a sweat
as the days new sun beamed
down upon her as did the
realization of her dream.
Standing up and without
hesitation Mandy pushed
herself onward, not taking
notice to the pool of blood
the she left behind. She
ran till her feet had blisters
and bled. Now walking, Mandy
needed to find a safe place
to rest for she was exhausted
and weak and darkness was
close at hand. Locating
a thick bush, Mandy crawled
up under and into the center
where she laid her bleeding
body.
Mandy’s thoughts quickly
ran back in time. Was her
mother safe? Was she even
alive? Before Mandy had
ran out the door She heard
her mother begging Mandy
to run away, to get help.
Just as Mandy was about
to run she saw a gun being
held by her father and was
pointed towards her mothers
head. As usual, her mother’s
face was black and blue
with blood pouring out of
her mouth. "Mandy run,
and don't look back"!
With no shoes and in total
shock, Mandy ran as fast
as she could. Not yet into
the woods, a shot echoed
piercing Mandy's ears. "No
daddy, no!" Within
minutes Mandy had clearly
heard her fathers scream,
"Don’t think
you can hide from me little
girl." Just then another
shot went off; not realizing
that she had been hit Mandy
entered the dark forest
where her journey first
began.
Her mamma was gone; this
she was certain of. Lying
quietly under the bush,
Mandy looked downwards and
noticed blood seeping through
her favorite dress that
her mother had made with
her tiring hands. Money
had been tight, but Mandy’s
mother had somehow managed
to purchase just enough
material to make a pretty
summer dress just for her
Mandy. Lonely and scared,
Mandy closed her eyes in
hopes of dreaming about
the field with many flowers.
Suddenly from nowhere Mandy
heard that familiar voice
once again. "Find the
flower Mandy."
Crying and yelling back,
Mandy yelled, "There
is nothing here but trees
and bushes!”
What seemed like minutes
turned into hours as Mandy
waited for some kind of
a response, but none came.
What once was a tummy ache
was now a piercing pain
shooting through her entire
body. The skies grew dark
once again as Mandy held
her hands to her tummy wishing
the pain would go away.
No longer able to concentrate,
her eyes grew heavy as the
blood began pouring from
her hands. Her skin became
cold to the touch and pale
to the appearance as Mandy
drifted in and out of consciousness.
“Mandy you must wake
up.” Mandy stirred
for a brief moment, then
was still.
“Mandy, take my hand
child.” Not sure if
she was dreaming, Mandy
opened her eyes and began
rubbing them with her bloody
hands. Staring out from
under the bush now, Mandy
saw a glimpse of a movement.
Just as quick as the movement
before, so was the hand
that was reaching inwards
towards her.
“You must walk to
the flower with me Mandy.”
“What flower? Who
are you?” Pulling
back, Mandy suddenly noticed
a bright light that seemed
to touch the ground and
rise towards the sky. Not
sure what to do, Mandy began
crying when she heard the
soft voice again.
“Mandy, you need to
trust me, I have come to
walk you to your flower.”
Sobbing, “ Will you
make my pain go away?”
asked Mandy.
“I cannot take away
your pain child, but I do
know who can so please take
my hand.”
Without further hesitation,
Mandy dragged herself out
from under the bush and
much to her surprise, she
saw the most beautiful angel
ever standing before her.
Hand in hand they both began
walking towards the bright
light.
“Angel?”
“Yes little one.”
“I hurt real bad and
I cannot walk much more.”
“We are almost there
Mandy, hold on.”
Mandy’s heart was
close to an end and her
pulse was barely there,
but she did as the angel
asked of her. As the angel
and Mandy came around a
tree, there stood the most
magnificent flower that
Mandy had ever seen! Standing
around the flower were many
other angels who smiled
at the abused child.
Now near death, Mandy’s
body gave way and crashed
to the ground. Barely breathing
Mandy noticed someone walking
toward her. Turning her
head sideways to look up,
Mandy saw her mother. She
had never looked more beautiful
than right then thought
Mandy.
One last word escaped from
Mandy’s body, “Mommy!”
Feeling her mother reach
down to pick up her child,
Mandy smiled one last smile.
“Mandy my dear, this
flower represents you and
will remain here on earth
for all time,” her
mother said. “I love
you Mandy and we will be
together forever without
pain.”
Mandy’s eyes closed
as her heart came to a stop.
Wrapping her shimmering
wings around her child,
the angel descended toward
her heavenly father, where
peace and love create total
harmony, where abuse and
suffering ends.
Shelley is now doing outreach
work thru Keen.com. You
can reach her directly at:
http://www.keen.com/AdvisorShelley63
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