2 comments/ 13637 views/ 0 favorites Courageous Spirits Of Love By: _Lady1SensuaL1Fire_ " You're going away this week again? Damn, Maxima, I'm not a babysitter. I'm suppose to host the poker game this weekend with the guys from the bar" Ron Brady complained, then belched. Looking at him with disgust, Maxima decided that after this meeting in Chicago, she was going to leave Ron. Remembering the bruise on her upper arm, Maxima had had enough of this creep. She and Ron have been married for 5 years now, and ever since he had lost his job as a Principal at the local High School, he had been very bitter about her high-paying career as CEO to a Revlon Cosmetic branch here in NY. There was a new Revlon opening up just outside of NY city in a smaller community, she did not tell him that she was leaving and taking her daughter Heather with her. For now, she must be cautious, and not show any emotions, because he thrived on fear from others. "Look, I'll be back the day after tomorrow. It's just a short meeting with a Marketing firm, they only need me there to sign some documents, then I'll be back" Maxima took a sideway glance at her six year old daughter Heather. Inside, she felt so sad, having neglected her for months now, her career keeping her away. She loved her daughter dearly, but with all the problems she's been dealing with, Ron being one of them. Something seemed different with Heather...she seemed so sad and distant. "And what after that? More meetings and conferences? I'm tired of it, I make enough money bartending to keep us afloat. You should be here raising your kid." with that, Ron took another swig of his beer, his eyes bloodshot. "Right, all the money you make is being spent on your beer and friends" Maxima shot back, knowing it hit the mark, even though she was going to pay for it dearly, but she didn’t care anymore. Maxima didn’t know how right she was, until Ron suddenly backhanded her across the mouth, splitting her lip. Maxima's dark chestnut hair fell into her eyes, as they watered from the pain. " You touch me again, and I'll....." Gripping her by the neck, Ron slammed her against the wall, sending her purse flying from the force. "Listen bitch, don’t even presume to tell me what to do" his words slurred, and his breath stunk like beer "Leave mommy alone!" Heather ran to her mother, hugging her, sliding in between her mother and father, raising her chin defiantly. With a quick slap to her face, Ron slapped Heather across the face, and threw her to the floor. "Get back little witch, mind your business. This is between your mother and I." "No daddy, stop, mommy is my business, I love her" Heather shot back, the corner of her lip split as well, but she didn’t care. She stared down her father, and crawled back to her mother. Throwing his head back, Ron laughed harshly " Don’t call me daddy, witch, I am not your father. Your daddy died when your mother was pregnant for you. He was a police Detective, and was killed stopping a robbery. So, don’t you dare call me daddy, you have none." " You lie! You are my daddy!" Heather's eyes welled up with tears as her heart dropped with the news Moving towards her, Ron balled his fists." You calling me a liar, girly?" Stepping between the two, Maxima grabbed Heather and shoved her towards her bedroom "Go to your room and lock your door. Don’t come out, do you hear me?" she told her with anger and pain in her eyes. "Is it true that he's not my daddy?" Heather ignored the command and asked her mother straight out. "I'll explain that to you another day, now go!" Maxima hurdled her daughter towards her room. Slipping her hand in her purse, Marina waited until she heard her daughter's door closed, then turned towards Ron, taking out her .45. "Get your coat, and get the hell out of my house, you're no longer welcomed here, got it. You ever come back, and It will be your last, is that clear?" She warned him, as she wiped the blood with the back of her hand. "What... you gonna tell your daddy? I know he's the Chief of police now. Go run to him, but that wont stop me, you belong to me, bitch" he snickered evilly. "Actually, jerk, he's an FBI agent now, but I don’t need him to put a bullet through your heart, if I need to. You've hit me for the last time, you lush. You're through here, and I don’t want you near Heather anymore either. I should put a bullet through you right now, for that bruise I just noticed on her arm, courtesy of you, while I was away." "She got in the way, and spilled water all over my Cuban cigars. I had to punish her". Ron shot back. "Get out, and if you come back, you'll be arrested. It's over" Maxima stood her ground, not afraid of the 6'5 man she once loved. Even at 5'1, Maxima was a force to recogn with. "It will never be over, Greek bitch." with that, Ron walked out, not having any choice, with a .45 aimed at his heart. He vowed he would get back at her for casting him out. * * * A month later, Heather lay on the floor of her bedroom, in her grampa's house. Her and mommy had moved away from their house, to move in with grandma and grampa. Mommy was on another trip in Chicago, with business stuff. Hearing a voice outside her window, Heather went to open it. Across her window, a boy her age looked out his, giggling as his cat chased its tail. Leaning out the window, Heather watched the cat as well, then looked up to see the boy looking at her. "Hello, I'm Adam" the little boy said shyly. "Hi, I'm Heather" she smiled for the first time in months. "Do you want to come over and play, Heather? Daddy is making chocolate chip cookies" "Ok let me go ask grampa" with that, Heather jumped from the window seat in her bedroom and ran downstairs After grampa told her yes, Heather ran next door and knocked on it. Standing there, Adam smiled at her, taking her hand. His big green eyes framed with black lashes, the light reflecting off his black curly hair. "Come on, daddy says they're ready". Entering the kitchen, Heather followed behind Adam, her head downcast, a bit fearful of a grown man. Still holding her hand, Adam told his father " Daddy, meet my new friend from next door, her name is Heather" the little boy smiled widely. Turning around, Adam's father, Darnell smiled until his eyes took in the little girl. His hands froze and he blinked slightly. His eyes widened as the little girl standing in front of him, was the spitting image of the woman he once loved long ago, in a much younger form, but she had...died. Trying hard to hold onto the plate, Darnel bade them both to sit down. Wanting to rush out and ask her right away, but not wanting to scare the little girl, he asked casually. "You say your name is Heather?" "Yes sir" she kept her eyes averted "Don’t be frightened, I wont hurt you luv" Darnell told her gently. Looking up at Adam's father, Heather tried to be brave by looking at his eyes. "Sorry, sir" "Please, call me Darnell, or Mr. Bronson." He tried to sooth her "Ok Mr. Bronson" Heather began to feel a bit more relaxed, hearing his deep but soothing voice" "Would you both like a cookie now? They are done cooling off" "Yes, daddy, they smell so good" Adam picked one up and offered one to Heather. "Thank you Adam" "Daddy's a good cook. I have no mommy, so daddy had to learn how to cook since I was small" Adam explained to Heather, without sadness. Adam's mother had died when he was two years old, from a brain tumor. Ever since then, it had just been the two of them. "I have no daddy, Ron told me he wasn’t my daddy, and that my real one died on duty; he was a Detective" Heather said between mouthfuls of cookies. Not able to hold back any longer, Darnell asked Heather. "What is your mommy's name, sweetie?" he asked as he placed a small glass of milk for the children. "Maxima Sirtis" Heather said automatically, sipping on some milk. "A...and how old is she?" "28, and I'm 6" she smiled widely. "I'm going to be 7 in September, mommy said I'm a big girl now" "Yes you are. I bet you look just like mommy" "Everyone tells us, we look like..."she tried to remember the words people used..... "Like mirror images" Darnell told her "Yes! How did you know?" Heather was truly amazed that he read her mind. Darnell turned away from the children, a tear slipping down his cheek.....Maxima...she was still alive. Memories came back to him, as he remembered the time when he was so deeply in love with the only woman that had captured his heart. They were seniors in highschool, both just turning 18. They had dated since they were 16, when they met at a lake. He had seen her swimming with her friends, when he had walked by with his friends, and got distracted by her in the lake. His bike had flipped over, sending him flying into the bushes, landing hard on his back, rendering him unconscious. A few moments, when he had come to, the most beautiful face was looking down into his. Cobalt blue eyes, fringed with long black lashes, a soft smile. Chestnut brown hair had glimmered with sparks of red, as the sun had cast a bright light around her, illuminating her beautiful face. She had asked him if he was alright, then helped him up, her smooth little hands holding his, Darnel had looked into her vibrant eyes, his heart lost to her since that day. Someone had snickered behind him "Ha, look at that, the interracial boy has to be helped up by a girl" Darnel was use to those snide remarks about his interracial birthright, so he ignored it. What amazed him that day, was that Maxima had not ignored it. She walked slowly to the snickering boy who had made the comment, smiled at him, and delivered a swift punch to his nose, breaking it, propelling the youth to the ground. As she looked down at the boy, she extended her hand to him, helping him up, taking a kleenex from her pocket, she dabbed at his nose...and told him: "Now, you have been helped to your feet by a girl too, you're both even" Maxima had winked at the boy and walked off, leaving them all behind. Darnell had come to her house a few days later, with flowers,, asking her father permission to take his daughter out on a date. After excruciating questions from her father, who was a policeman, he had agreed to allow them on a date, winking at his wife, as his daughter and Darnell left for their first date. Since that day long ago, they had grown closer, more in love. After graduation, Maxima had decided to go out of State to attend University. She had gone for a few weeks on a trip to check out the University before enrolling, and was gone for 3 weeks, when he received a call. Someone called Ron Brady, had notified him that Maxima Sirtis had died in a car accident, and that her family was flying the body to Greece to bury her, and that they didn’t want him to be there. Darnell had fallen to his knees, and cried as his heart broke into a million pieces. He had locked himself away into seclusion from everyone for a month, his heart and mind numb with the pain of the loss of Maxima. When his mother had found him in the apartment, his lips were cut and dried from the salt of his tears. Dark shadows stained the underside of his eyes from exhaustion, he had also lost ten pounds from not eating. That day, he had bowed his head and prayed to God to give him the strength to go on. A few years later, he had met a wonderful woman while attention Penn State University. They had gotten married, and she had given birth to their only child, Adam. Two years later, the doctor found a brain tumor in her brain and had died not long after, leaving him behind with their son. Adam meant the world to him. Breaking out of his painful thoughts, Darnell realized that his son was pulling on his shirt to get his attention.. "Daddy" Adam looked up into his father's solemn face. Kneeling before his son, he became eye level to him. "Yes son?" "I love you daddy" Darnell's heart pounded in his chest, as he looked at his son, reminding him how very much blessed he is to have this angel boy. Hugging him close, Darnell cleared his throat and smiled at him "I Love you too, my son". Looking at Heather, Darnell watched her; the spitting image of her mother. As he was about to smile, she spoke: "Do you want a cookie, Mr Bronson? It might cheer you up" Reaching into her little lace pocket, Heather withdrew a rumpled tissue. She walked hesitantly to him, dabbed at his tear, and stood still. Darnell's eyes welled up with tears, as he gently opened his arm for Heather to come to him, beside Adam. Hugging both children, Darnell's heart swelled with joy. Heather layed her head on Adam's father's big shoulder, somehow knowing he wouldn’t hurt her. Then Adam wrapped his arm around Heather as well. Hugging both of them, Darnell felt at peace, wanting to get them all the love they both deserved. Not wanting to frighten her, Darnell tapped her back gently, to soothe her. "Mr.Bronson, you broke my cookie" she spoke softly, as her eyes took in the crumbs on the floor, automatically backing away in fear that she will get punished for the mess. Looking down at the crumbs on the floor, Darnell chuckled softly."It's ok sweetie, watch this" "Sassy! Come here girl, you want a treat?" No sooner then he called out her name, a golden retriever came running into the kitchen, and dove right into the cookie crumbs, licking it up, wagging her tail. Darnell noticed how Heather cringed when the crumbs fell to the floor, and frowned. "Heather, it's ok, truly. Come here please" He coaxed gently. Hesitating a moment, Heather felt Adam's little hand grab hers, and held it reassuringly. "It's ok Heather, daddy wont hurt you I promise" Adam looked at her with his soft green eyes. Walking to Mr. Bronson, Heather looked at him as he stayed kneeling down. Taking the hand he extended, Heather walked to him, as he gave her a soft hug. "I would never hurt you honey, but obviously someone has. You are frightened of a little mess on the floor, why? Has someone hurt you for things like that?" Darnell was watching her intently. "My pretend daddy would hit me when I dropped things, he told me I was clumsy and stupid." Heather's eyes lowered to the ground after telling him. "Pretend daddy?" Shuffling her feet nervously, Heather explained hesitantly" I thought he was my daddy, but I heard him tell mommy that he was not my daddy, and that my daddy died in a shooting accident on duty, he was a policeman like grampa". "Who is your pretend daddy?" Disgust began to form inside him for the horrible man in question. "His name is Ron Brady" Heather said with a bit of fear. "He is a very bad man, he hits mommy and me. Mommy took us away from him, that's why we are living with grandma and grampa." A sickening thud hit his heart, as the long ago memory came crashing back again. Ron Brady was the one that called him and told him that Maxima was dead.....he lied...so he can have her for himself. Standing up and turning around, Darnell's fists clenched painfully, as anger overtook his body...The bastard! After supper, Heather asked her grandparents if Adam could sleep over. As Darnell prepared an overnight bag for his son, Darnell was readying himself for a confrontation with Ron Brady. After shaking hands with Maxima's father, and a few pleasantries, Darnell kissed his son and Heather goodnight, and left. When Darnell knew the two children were safely ensconced in bed, he left to confront Brady, after getting Heather's old address where Brady still lived. Three hours later, Darnell stood at the front step of Ron Brady's home....Maxima's former home. He looked around the yard and noticed the feminine touch of her work. Shaking off any soft thoughts, Darnell pounded on the door and waited. A moment later, a light came on, and the door opened. Standing across from him, was the man that, in one single phone call, destroyed his life. Taking a deep breath, Darnell kept his cool for the moment. "Ya, what do you want" Ron asked rudely, looking Darnell up and down, as he held a bottle of vodka in his hand. "Ron Brady?" Darnell asked only once, to confirm. "Ya, who wants to know" In a swift motion, Darnell drew back his big fist, and hit Ron Brady square between the eyes, sending him careening backwards. Darnell moved in on him, shut the door behind him, as he waited for Ron Brady to stand back up. He wasn’t going to finish him up quickly. "What the fu..." Brady never got a chance to finish, as Darnell delivered another bruising blow to his ugly face. Picking up Ron by the collar of his shirt, Darnell decided to let the bastard know why he was here. "Why?" Darnell asked him in a tone which bespoke the quiet before a storm. "Why did you do it?" Ron Brady suddenly recognized the voice from long ago. "Darnell Bronson" " You know it, you bastard" Darnell lunged at him again, but Ron was ready this time. Brady delivered a painful uppercut to the bigger man, sending him back, then threw in a verbal barb. "Maxima came town and when I seen her, I had to meet her, but all she talked about was her Darnell. After a week, I had had enough, and made my move. I paid a woman well to call Maxima and pretend she was your mother. The woman told Maxima that you had passed away and that they didn’t want her there at the funeral." Ron told him coldly. Darnell stopped dead in his tracks, as the ominous words sunk in Maxima thinks I'm dead...as I thought she was. Watching Darnell's reaction, Brad laughed evilly. "Yes, that's right, big bastard, I was there to consol Maxima as she cried for months, thinking you had died. She didn’t bother going back home, she stayed with me. I stepped right into your shoes, but she didn’t want me yet. She met this idiot cop that looked a lot like you, he seduced her and got her pregnant, but I got rid of him too. He had an unfortunate "shooting accident", by my gun of course, in a dark alley. After a while, she realized I was the one always there for her, and when she found out she was pregnant, she needed me. I took in that brat, and raised her as my own. Damn kid was just as mouthy as her mother, had to tame her with a few beatings. You know how that is, damn females always talking back." he rambled on with too much arrogance to realize Darnell's mounting anger was about to explode. Remembering the bruises on Heather and the fear in her big blue eyes, Darnell gripped Ron by the neck "I am going to kill you with my bare hands, then I'm going to find Maxima and tell her I'm alive. You will pay dearly for destroying these three lives. I am taking Heather as my own daughter as well, you will be finished". Just as he was going to deliver a bruising punch to Ron Brady, Darnell heard the police sirens approaching the house. Throwing Ron down, he knew this was no time to get arrested, when he had to go find Maxima. Turning around, he began walking to the door to leave, and deal with Brady later. A shadow upon the wall, beside him told him Brady was going to attack him from behind. Delivering a back drop-kick, Darnell, sent his foot in Brady's stomach, sending him flying across the room. Hearing the bastard grunt in pain, Darnell raked his hand through his black hair, then looking briefly behind him to the sprawled unconscious figure of Ron Brady on the floor, Darnell left quickly in the shadows, and ran to his car he parked the street over. * * * Over the next several days, Heather came over to play with Adam. Watching them both, Darnell noticed how Heather was beginning to open up to him and Adam. The fear in her eyes, began to lessen, and she laughed a few times. The soft sound reminded him of an angel playing a golden harp. That evening, Adam ate supper next door at Heather's house, when a navy blue GTO pulled up in the driveway. Darnell went to the door, as he watched the dark car pull up in the driveway next door. He remembered how much Maxima loved antique cars, he smiled softly, as he realized, that some things never changed. Closing the oak door behind him, Darnell walked down the steps as he waited until the door to the GTO opened. As the door finally opened, Maxima stepped out with her briefcase. Courageous Spirits Of Love As if sensing a presence near her, Maxima turned her head slightly, feeling a tingling up her neck. Her eyes widened in shock as she seen who was standing there. Her face turned white as if she'd seen a ghost, and crumpled to the grass unconscious. Darnell raced over to Maxima, cradled her body into his. Moments later, her big cobalt blue eyes opened in a flutter of long black lashes. "Darnell? You're a ghost" Maxima said in a whisper. "No Maxima, I am here beloved." he spoke as a tear ran down his rugged cheek. Reaching up gently, Maxima gently wiped the crystal tear from his tanned cheek with her finger. Bringing it to her lips to taste , she realized he was no ghost. "I was told bye your mother that you died, and they didn’t want me there" Maxima spilled out, as tears ran down her cheeks as well. "Ron Brady paid a woman to call you and tell you that I had died, just as he called me and told me you were killed in a car accident, and that your parents didnt want me there for the funeral. It was all a lie, Max, so he could have you for himself." Swallowing hard, Darnell went on. "He....even killed Heather's father. I went to his house last week and confronted him, that's when I recognized his voice when he started to speak, he was drunk, and spilled his guts on what he did..as if he was proud". Darnell spat out in disgust. The door to Maxima's house opened suddenly, and her parents came running out, upon hearing the commotion. Maxima's mother Sarina gasped in shock. Leaning down slowly, Darnell picked up Maxima's body with the utmost care, cradling her head on his broad shoulder, and carried her to her house. Behind them, Maxima's father places his arm around his wife, leading her back in. Once inside, Darnell placed Maxima upon the plush blue sofa, staying near her. Ten minutes later, Maxima came to, whimpering softly and whispered "Darnell" Kneeling in front of the sofa, Darnell took Maxima's smooth hand. " I am here sweetheart, and I will never leave you again...ever". Darnell and Maxima told her parents exactly what happened, and how they thought each other were dead. After the story was finally told, there was a stillness in the home, as if each person contemplated the enormity of what had just transpired; One man singlehandedly nearly destroyed six lives. The next morning came early, as the warm sun rays filtered through the living room where Darnell slept. He felt the warmth of the rays caress his face like a lover's touch. As he opened his bright green eyes, he looked into the cobalt blue eyes of Maxima, as she smiled down upon him as she knelt before him on the floor. "I didn’t feel you were dead...somehow I still felt your presence in my life. If there were no words, no way to speak...I would still hear you in my heart." Maxima expressed to him, as she ran a smooth hand down Darnell's rugged cheek. Their eyes locked together, as she leaned down and captured his lips. The sun seemed to approve of this long-awaited kiss, for as soon as their lips touched, the sun splashed more of its rays in the living room, illuminating it. "I felt you too, Maxima, but my heart broke into a million pieces at the thought of your brilliant spirit leaving me. Even if the sun refused to shine, and all seemed lost, you would still have my heart until the end of time. You're all I need, and want. I have a son now, his name is Adam. After I thought you were dead, a time later, I met someone and we had a child, but she died of a brain tumor when Adam was two years old." Darnell kept his eyes locked to Maxima as he told her everything. As if on cue, two sets of little feet were heard coming down the spiral staircase. Standing at the entrance of the living room, stood Adam and Heather, holding hands. Mother and daughter stood looking at each other, then Maxima opened her arms for her daughter. Heather came running into them, as Maxima picked her up and held her close. "I Love you mommy" Heather whispered. "I love you too Heather" Maxima looked at her daughter and reassured her. " Mommy is not going away on trips anymore. I am opening up a shop on the outskirts of the city, so mommy will be home everyday. I am so sorry I left you with Ron, mommy didn’t know he was hurting you. But I promise, he will never touch you again, he is going to jail". "It's ok mommy, you didn’t know, and I didn’t want to be any trouble for you. I know you were always busy with work" She hugged her mother more, then looked at Darnell. Heather opened her arms to him, as he held Adam in his arms. In the next instant, they all held each other. "Adam, this is Heather's mommy Maxima." Adam's bright green eyes held Maxima's blue ones. She melted right away, upon seeing the beautiful little boy, and held out her arms for him. Adam hugged her tightly. " You look just like your daddy, Adam. So handsome and vibrant" "Heather looks like you too, Maxima, except that she has a freckle on her nose and you don’t" Adam stated with a giggle, then ran when Heather began chasing him. Darnell and Maxima chuckled at the children, then stood looking at each other, and knew that they would always be together. No one will ever stand between the two again. They both decided to make their homes outside of NY, away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. None of them realized that their future was about to yet again, come into jeopardy. They did not see the dark car parked outside Maxima's home, as Ron Brady waited with anger in his evil light blue eyes. * * * A month later, Heather and Adam were playing in the backyard, when they heard a car pull up in the driveway. Heather hid behind Adam as she recognized Ron Brady's car. Brady walked up to the door, and demanded to know where Maxima was. Heather noticed a gun placed behind Ron's back in his belt, and decided to face him, so she could protect her mommy. "Mommy is not here, and she doesn’t want to see you anymore." Heather lifted her chin defiantly, her cobalt blue eyes flashing with rage, her little fists balled up. "Well, well. The little witch has a spine after all. You certainly do take after your mother. I am here to take your mother, and nothing you can say will make a difference, so get lost brat" Ron Brady spat back. " You will not hurt my mommy ever again!" with that, Heather kicked Ron hard in the shin, causing him to yelp in anger. Ron retaliated by back handing her in the face, sending the little girl flying backwards to the ground."Little bitch, you'll pay for that" he began to walk towards her, as he heard a voice rang out. " Stop where you are, lousy bastard!" Maxima's father stood in the open doorway, with Adam beside him. Darnell's son had run into the house to get Maxima's father when he seen Ron Brady hit Heather. Stopping in his tracks, Ron held up his hands. He didn’t see the little boy running up behind him before it was too late. Adam had taken a metal lid from the trash can, aimed it at Ron's head, causing him to growl in anger. " You will not hurt Heather anymore, you big oaf!" Adam yelled as he ran to Heather and stood in front of her. As Ron Brady was about to walk towards the children, he head the clicking of a gun. "Stay where you are Ron, the police are on their way." Just as he said that, Maxima and Darnell pulled up in his pickup. Maxima ran out even before the truck stopped. "What the hell are you doing here? Taking in what happened, Maxima ran over to the children and stood in front of them. "I'm here to finish what I started. You're mine Maxima." Ron stated with crazed, glazed filled eyes. As he was busy yelling at Maxima, Darnell came running towards Ron Brady, but he wasn’t quick enough. Ron took out the .45 from his pocket, swung hard and caught Darnell on the temple, knocking him down. Looking at Maxima, Ron Brady took aim her, when a shot was fired from behind him. Maxima's father aimed at Ron, shooting him in the back, but Brady wasn’t done. Heather watched as the gun pointed at her mother. Stepping in front of her, Heather stood in front of her mother, before anyone could do anything. Ron fired a shot just as Darnell took out his Colt and shot him between the eyes. Maxima cried out as the bullet hit Heather near the side of her head. "Heather!!" Maxima cried out. Maxima's father ran into the house to call the ambulance, even as the police sirens arrived at the scene. Heather had taken the shot meant for her. Her daughter had sacrificed her safety for her, when she didn’t deserve it. She practically neglected her daughter for her own career...and here was her beautiful Heather, with the purest soul, sacrificing herself for her mother. Kneeling down beside her daughter, Maxima's eyes filled with tears, holding her. The ambulance could be heard approaching the house. A few moment later, the paramedics gently pulled her off the bleeding and prone body of her daughter, as they worked to try and revive her. One paramedic looked back at Maxima and shook his head with sadness in his eyes. Heather watches her mother weeping in the rain from above the scene..watching as the paramedics try to revive her body...turning slightly..Heather watches as a soft white glow beckons her to follow....Heather's heart feels heavy as she thinks how much easier it would be for her mother if she were just to go to Heaven where they will love her, and not be in the way. Images of her short life flash before her eyes, watching each scene as if it were a movie....Her mother yelling at her pretend father...him slapping her mother....Watching a scene where she asks her mother to come play Barbie with her..but her mother tells her she has no time for her..she needs to get to work. Heather watches another scene, as her pretend father backhands her, after spilling some milk on the table, her big blue eyes filling with tears, as he storms out of the house, leaving her behind her, holding her only friend....her doll...a red imprint upon her soft little cheek. Feeling angry inside that her mother always left her behind with a man that ended up not being her father, and thought of her as a burden, and that never loved her. As the scenes end, Heather watched as her mother fainted to the pavement, her flooded tears overcast by the pouring rain running on her body....an ambulance attendant ran toward her prone body. As they lift her mother to her feet and walked her to where they worked on Heather's body, The ambulance attendant shook his head again at her mother, as she asked him where her baby was. Her mother's eyes followed to where Heather's body was being led to the ambulance truck. Heather watched from the sky above the scene, as her mother's aura darkened and her eyes glazed over....remembering how she sometimes wished she wasn’t born....and thinking her mother felt the same about her....but as she watched how her mother's spirit dimmed...and her heart shattering in millions of pieces. A new scene came to Heather from the past couple of days, when her mother held her tightly, and took her away from that bad man, Ron Brady. She also thought of what her mother told her "I am opening a new shop on the outskirts of NY, so that I could be home for you everyday, because I love you dearly. Heather realized just how much her mother really loved her. Heather changed her mind....looking towards the light, but a voice whispered to her "Heather, three special people really need you, showing her Adam, Darnel and her mother, please heal each other"...and with that..the light vanished..... Heather floated back down to her body, missing her mother so much. Gasping for air, she opened her eyes, causing her mother to cry out "HEATHER!!!" Pushing the people away from her, Maxima ran towards her daughter, laid out on the stretcher, before they can place the white sheet to cover her body... Ignoring the voices crying out a miracle, around her, Heather cried out "mommy...mommy...where are you" Sitting up on the stretcher, Heather opened her arms for her mother, as she ran to her.. Picking up her daughter from the stretcher, Maxima held her little daughter in her arms, mother and daughter hugging tightly, both crying out in joy. Looking into each other's eyes, blue eyes mirrored each other, both their chestnut brown hair mixing together, as their foreheads touched. "Oh Heather, thank you for coming back to me" then looking up into the heavens, Maxima mouthed the words "thank you Lord"... Both mother and daughter were placed in the ambulance, and brought to the hospital to be tended to....physically and emotionally. Heather suffered only minor injuries, as miraculously, the bullet only grazed her head. * * * One year later, Maxima and Darnell were married, and he adopted Heather as his own child. Heather and Adam became best friends, and she blossomed into a vibrant child. The dark shadows that once filled her cobalt blue eyes, were now a distant memory, as was the tragedy that transpired to bring them all closer. Ron Brady was dead, and so were the days when Maxima took Heather for granted. Maxima was pregnant not long after that. Months later, Maxima gave birth to twins; a boy and a girl then named Chance and Destiny....... The End. This short story is dedicated to my mother, who had the courage to leave a violent home, which almost killed her spirit. This is also dedicated to all the men, women and children who have had to endure abuse, the crushing of their spirit and those that were courageous enough to fight back.