Page 10 of Daddy's Damaged Little Girl

“Why do you say ‘survivor’ instead of ‘victim’ like some of the others call me?”

“Because we are survivors. We have come back from something a lot of girls don’t get a chance to. We’re back to a somewhat normal life.”

Sophia had tears running down her face. “I don’t think I’ll ever be normal.”

Sage held out her hand and was pleased when Sophia took it. “None of us will ever have the normal we had. We have to make up our new normal. We choose what happens now.”

“You didn’t have your father sell you to these people,” Sophia said.

Sage shook her head. “No. But I came back to a father and fiancé who couldn’t look me in the eyes and thought I was dirty and damaged.”

Sophia’s eyes widened before they filled with tears again. “I’m sorry.”

Sage shrugged. “I made a new normal, and I can tell you with all honesty that my life now is so much better than before.”

The girl wiped her tears away. “Will I ever stop crying and have a happy life?”

Sage squeezed the girl’s hand and smiled. “Yes. It takes time, though. Don’t push it. Cry as much as you want. It will help you heal. If you bottle it up, you’ll never be able to move on. Talk to a counselor every week at least. It helps.”

“Did you?” Sophia asked.

Sage nodded. “I still do. I don’t think I’ll stop anytime soon. I’ll give you her number. She’s wonderful and has had experience with our kind of trauma.” She let that sink in for a minute. “Have you eaten?”

Sophia shook her head.

“How about I get you a plate of treats? Just tell me what things you don’t like.”

“I don’t know if I can eat anything.”

“How about I eat with you?”

Sophia thought about it for a moment and then nodded. “Okay. I like everything except mushrooms.”

Sage smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

“How long will you be?”

Sage could hear the tension in the girl’s voice. “A few minutes. How about I open the curtain a bit so you can see me at the buffet?”

Sophia relaxed and nodded.

Sage hurried and grabbed a big plate and started putting things on it. She grabbed two bottles of water and headed back to the girl.

“Here you go.” Sage sat on the bed next to the girl. “We’re kind of having a picnic.”

Sohpia’s face brightened. “I’ve never been on a picnic.”

“Then this will be your first of many.”

The two ate and talked about the dog that Sophia had always wanted to get and the friends she missed and would probably never see again.

Sage set the plate and bottles on the nightstand. She could see how tired the girl was. “Would you like to lay down?”

Sophia stiffened. “No.”

“You’re safe here, Sophia.”

“I…”

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