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PROLOGUE

Ellie seven years old…

I stood crying against the wall Mo me This is how she acts when she drinks the bad stuff that Jefferson calls beer I just want to run and get away before she seestoon the swings I was so happy thinking about how much fun ould have

Mommy had been oing to the park today because she was feeling sad and needed a drink

“You would not have fun at the park Ellie anyway ” But I kneould especially because I loved the swings at school I wish Jefferson was hory

Then she screamed out my name… “Ellie!” I ju she would just get ain I walked up to her very slowly

She was sitting at the kitchen table with her face in her hands “Y, yes Mommy?” She looked up atof when she looks at me that way She tells me all the time I have his eyes Jefferson says my eyes are like the blue like the sky

Mohter than mommy’s Jefferson likes to brush my hair and always tells me how pretty I am and that I am a princess He said some day my prince will come and save me and take me away from this bad place Mommy never tells me I am pretty, she just tells me I look like my daddy She hates my daddy

”Ellie, Ellie, Ellie” she said her Ls really funny, like she was having a hard ti them

“Do you know that you will never be wanted? No one will ever love you, just like I have never been loved No man will ever really want you You need to know that noish someone would have told me that, fuck it would have saved me a lot of pain ”

Mo funny Did she not want me anymore?

“Mommy, I’m sorry for whatever I did Please don’t be mad at me Please want h and then she put her head back in her hands and toldin my chest and my tummy Why was it so hard for me to breathe? I walked over to the corner in the kitchen and sat down

When will Jefferson get home? I just want Jefferson……I need Jefferson

“You will never be wanted by anyone……remember that Ellie darlin’, remember that”……

Nine years later……