"Daddy, daddy!" she ran towards the man, only to have him look at her with pure disgust. "You get away from me, before I beat you, you bastard child!" he screamed and slammed the door of the cottage. I watched her run away, a pond of tears forming in her soft, brown eyes. Her face was cold to the touch; the blood on the sheets stained them a deep red as they were pulled over her lifeless body. Her side placed her newborn child as her husband entered the room. "Get that creature away from her, it's birth caused her death and I will never forget that." The years slowly faded away, and the child flourished without the love of her father. She had no name, always wore the same white dress and had long blonde hair that fell over her shoulders. Everyday I watched her wander around the river bend, picking flowers or being beaten down by a monster. My heart would break every time a tear fell to the ground... All I could see in her face was her mother, a beautiful woman whom I loved with all my heart, and the woman who died giving birth to our baby girl... Then, the day I had been dreading arrived, the day where his hatred would rip away my only life's reason. He began to throw things, cups, chairs, anything he could grab, and they came pouring down upon her tiny body like a thunderstorm. She was picked up by her hair and dragged outside to the riverbed. The yelling pierced my ears, her soft sobbing, I wanted to go to her, tell her everything, let her know she was loved and to rescue her, but it was too late. Strong hands grasped around her neck and began pushing her under the cold water, swallowing water, her toes desperately trying to touch the sandy bottom. Blood trickled out of her cuts and the corner of her mouth, floating with the current. Then she died. Pick up her tiny body, carry it to the shore, gently place her down. Grief, rage, flowing through my veins, it's too much to handle. Walk up to the cottage, kick the door in, grab the knife, push it through his skin, laugh, again, again and again, blood flowing, rip his flesh open, rip it with my bare hands, he killed her. Mutilated, perfect. It was as if it were a dream, I slowly tore every limb from his torso and rejoiced in the delight it gave me for that one split second. Then I remembered that she was lying there, by the river bed, alone. Her skin was ice, her hair matted down, the bruises on her had turned a deep purple around her throat, her eyes stared back at me, terror still abdament in their gaze... I held her close to my heart for the very first time, and began to weep for my sweet angel whom I never got to know in life, because of him. Time slowly went by and the sun rose slightly in the east stating a new day had arrived. My body had lost all sensations, all I could see, touch, taste, hear and smell was her, I never heard their arrival, just didn't notice it, till it was too late. They saw inside the hut and found piece after piece of mutilated flesh, they saw my blood stained skin, then they saw my baby, lifeless in my arms...... I could never have imagined what was to follow. They wore rags which hung loosely around their bodies, their harsh skin had endured years of famine and hiding, but their eyes filled with tears of pure sorrow at her sight. An old woman stepped forward from the small crowd and took her body from my grasping arms, turned, then started to walk into the woods. A young man then beckoned me to follow. Our destination turned out to be a small clearing, with a blossoming of deep red and white flowers which covered the ground like a blanket. A flat stone lay in the very centre of the clearing, The smell of rosemary was thick in the air, choking me with every breath I took in. The old woman lay her down on the stone, and began to dress her in a deep purple robe. It made her skin look like snow, she was so pale, no life left inside her... The old woman came to me, her voice was steady, full of warmth, but the words she spoke sent my blood cold. "She can live." She looked into my eyes, and I knew what had to be done... I tried to take in every detail upon my daughter's face - the way the early morning light hit her skin, the long curled eyelashes, the way her golden hair fell and then my eyes fell upon the way her hand lay upon by her side. Slowly I stepped towards her and kissed her lovingly upon her icy forehead - how my heart yearned to see her alive. The old woman suddenly lifted my head up with her leathery hand and stared straight into my eyes. "How much would you sacrifice for this child?" "Everything I could, without any hesitation" I replied and at this she nodded approvingly. Before I could draw a breath I had sacrificed everything I had, without a hesitation. I had sacrificed my life for my daughter. My blood slowly dripped onto the stone and it fell continuously. Gently I crawled next to her and picker her tiny body once more in my arms. My blood washed over her lifeless, pale body like the river that took her breath away. I felt so weak and tired, the colours started to blur and the world spun wildly around me. "Daddy?" I looked down and there she was, alive, moving and calling to me. Her eyes had swelled with tears and they began to trickle down her cheeks. "Daddy, please don't leave me." I smiled weakly. " You will never be alone my daughter, for I shall never leave your side and will protect you always." I awoke with a start. Recollecting the visions that had invaded my slumber, the feeling of being safe swept over me once more and I lay back into your arms. This is for my guardian angel, who always tries to protect me - this is for you Chris. I love you. Umbrea THE END
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