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“The doctors documented numerous burn marks on her back, th—” He doesn’t get to continue when she jumps in.
“Yes, her birth mother abused her before she ended up in our care.”
The officer nods, his jaw ticking as he states, “She also has numerous fresh scars on her upper thighs, inside of her arms, stomach, and lower back.”
I start to shake, that was my last home. They would cut me anytime I tried to sneak food from the kitchen. They only allowed one piece of bread and water all day, and they would also have strange men and women come over in the evenings, who I would have to serve in my underwear. I ran after one of them tried to touch me, and I was found by an elderly man a few hours later. They took me straight back into care; the Jenkins claimed I was abusive to the other children and just too much work. I never went back.
Mrs. Reeves looks back at me in shock as the officer stands taller, crossing his arms over his chest.“I take it those are not from her birth mother.”
Mrs. Reeves shakes her head and walks over to me. She gently places her hand on my cheek. I flinch, and she frowns. “Talk to me, Avery. What happened?”
I start to cry, and I shake my head, before the officer kneels in front of me, forcing Mrs. Reeves to take a step back as worry etches her features.
“How many homes have you been placed in, Avery?” Mrs. Reeves frowns at him, confused with his question.
I whisper, “Eight.”
He nods. “Can you tell me about them?”
I shrug and look at Mrs. Reeves. She has compassion in her eyes, and despite doing a poor job of keeping me safe, she used to be really nice, so I whisper and hope they believe me.
“The first one, the daughter didn’t like me, so she did things that got me sent back into care. The second one didn’t want me anymore because I was of no use for them; they would take pictures of me in only my underwear, and as soon as I hit a certain age, they sent me back to the home.” They both stiffen but I continue, “The next four, they were horrible. They didn’t feed us or clothe us properly, and when the beatings started, that’s when I would run.” Mrs. Reeves gasps in shock, putting her hand over her mouth, while the officers face goes red. But I don’t stop. “Home number seven, they would only feed us one slice of bread a day. We were allowed water but nothing else, if you were caught trying to get more food, they cut us with a knife.” I wipe my tears and look up to Mrs. Reeves so she can see my eyes. “They would have parties in the evenings, and we were to hand food out to them in only our underwear. One of the Jenkins’ friends tried to touch me on my privates, so I ran.” I sniffle and Mrs. Reeves starts to cry; these are the homes she placed me in.
The officer takes my hand gently. “Why did you run from this current one, darling?”
I sniffle again. “I tried to stay there and be quiet but Ben drinks, and few weeks ago, he broke my ribs with his bat and told the doctor I fell down the stairs.” Mrs. Reeves gasps. “Today I came off the school bus and he was watching his hockey game, it was an old one and they lost, but he keeps rewatching it. He came after me with the bat again, and he hit me hard on the head. I went to sleep but when I woke up, he, he, he was t-trying to t-t-take my pants off, a-a-and when I ran o-o-out the door, I heard Hannah shout a-a-about losing money from the R-R-Romanians, because they are s-s-s-selling me to them.”
I start to cry uncontrollably, and the officer picks me up ,and puts me on his lap. I cling to him as I hear Mrs. Reeves crying, too.
His chest rumbles against my head when I hear him talk. “Dispatch, this is officer Tony Gibson, requesting back up at the Lakewood Children’s hospital. Underage child abused by foster parents, several homes in need of inspection for abuse, neglect, and sexual exploitation of a minor.”
“Ten-four, Officer Gibson, dispatch on the way. ETA ten minutes.”
He strokes my head and clears his throat. “Mrs. Reeves, if you check your files, you’ll see I am a registered foster parent with my wife Natalie. I would like her to be placed with us under emergency placement, please.”
Mrs. Reeves nods. “I’ll call right away so you can take her immediately. Going into a group home again will just traumatize her more.” He nods as she looks at me. “I’m so sorry, sweet girl.” More tears fall from my eyes, and I close them with my hand gripping the nice man’s uniform.
I hear Mrs. Reeves leave the room, and for the first time in years, I feel safe. I feel his chest rumble again.
“Hey baby, I need you to come to the Lakewood Children’s hospital. No, I’m okay…yes I’m sure, baby, let me speak.” Hechuckles a little. “I have a sweet nine-year-old girl for you to meet, we’ll be bringing her home with us, okay? I love you, too.” He hangs up, then strokes my hair again, lulling me to sleep.
I don’t know how long I sleep for, but I wake up hearing, “Oh my, she’s a precious baby and so tiny. We need to help her gain more weight.”
The officer’s chest rumbles with a chuckle.
“I know, she’s not had it easy.” I feel another hand on my head, and I open my eyes to see a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes looking at me with concern.
“Hi sweetheart, I’m Natalie.”
I whisper, “Hello.”
She smiles sweetly and opens her arms, and I go to her. She lifts me up and off the man’s lap. It’s a good thing I’m so small because she’s not that tall. I wrap my legs around her waist and lay my head on her shoulder, then she walks away without talking to anyone. I hear the policeman chuckle and follow us, but I don’t pay attention, I just close my eyes. I hear Mrs. Reeves mumble, “Take good care of her, please.” Guilt laces her voice.
“We will,” Natalie states, and continues to walk out with me in her arms, with the nice police officer right behind her, carrying a lot of paperwork.
For the first time, I feel at peace and safe.
two
