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Smiling, he placed the items in my palms. “I know that.”
Holding the items in my shaking hands, I sniffled through tears, absolutely in awe. “Thank you so much.”
Retrieving a full cup from the counter, he took a sip of his coffee that he liked with two spoons of sugar and two seconds of milk. “That was nice.” He gestured to me. “You never ask where I work, or much about me.”
My teary eyes widened. “Do you want me to?”
He set down the cup while thinking. Then he replied, “I think so.”
Trying to contain my giddiness, I nodded. “Okay.” I nibbled on my bottom lip, wanting to be sure my second question was an epic one. “Do you like your work?”
He chuckled, “Do you like your job,” correcting me.
Of course, I didn’t know that, hence asking, “Do I have one?”
Now he laughed out loud! “No! I was trying to help you ask the question properly!”
Him smiling so big had me smiling, too. “Oh.”
“But, you know what?”
“No.”
Laughter, laughter… “You do have a job, Elleora.” His smile was now full of pride. “Taking care of your da.”
Swoon. I swooned at the honor. “I already love my work.”
Twisted notion, yes. Deprived minds can fall for such things and do their best to forget traumas.
Da explained he was an accountant and loved his job, also, because numbers were his friends. As time passed and we got to know each other more, I suspected Da was almost as lonely as me. He had no friends. No girlfriend or wife. And his mammy had died. I think that is why I was able to entertain him so easily. His guard was down around me. I was the only person who thought so highly of him.
Can you imagine? The man who killed my mother… was my only friend.
If my perception couldn’t become any more distorted, I was actually relieved the day I learned he hadn’t succeeded in killing me. Poison… Da finally admitted he had been poisoning my food, causing me the horrible stomach cramps before I got to leave my room.
He apologized for it. And, with that apology, my chest bloomed with more mistaken emotions. I was elated that he no longer wished me dead. I somehow felt that I was being such a good lass that I had literally escaped death, instead of trying to find a way to escape this unbelievable captivity.
My perception was so warped that I was actually thankful his desires for little girls went dormant for the short period of time we had together. I didn’t have to share him with anyone. I didn’t have to compete for his attention. I didn’t have to be… lonely.
Yes, peaceful times.
Trust kept building between me and Da.
Around the age of fifteen, I was taken outside, into the back yard. It was the first time I’d ever been outdoors, except for the night with Mammy… but this time I wasn’t sneaking out. Da had opened the thick, dusty curtains and then opened the back sliding door and let me step into the sun.
The foreign sensations and smells had my ears ringing. My body went still. My head leaned back with closed eyes so I could take in another first for me.
The sun.
Warm rays had my whole body in delightful chills. My skin soaked up the sun as if it had been starving for such natural energy. I took a deep breath, quickly realizing Da’s home was musky and dingy, then exhaled so much appreciation I literally sighed a relief so deep my eyes filled with tears, yet again.
Not moving, afraid this dream would end, I let the tears slide down my face and to the ground. Mammy, I’m outside, and it’s glorious.
After my eyes adjusted to the brightness, I turned to Da. “Thank you so much.”
Watching me, he was smiling, his glasses resting on chubby cheeks. “I’m not going to put you back in your room today.”
I stopped breathing. I just couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t going to be locked away this day.
