Five years later.

“It's our third child!” Shirley shouted in frustration. “It's been five years, how many more years do you need me to convince you with?”

“It's not ours, it's yours!” David argued.

“How can you even say that?!”

“I d--”

“Mommy?” A small voice interrupted and they both turned to the door.

“Yes sweetheart?” Shirley answered.

“The lesson teacher is here,” Ame said.

“I'll be down in a minute,” Shirley said with a sigh.

“You! Didn't you see your mom and I were having a conversation?” David asked, glaring at the five year old.

“I ju---”

“Get out of here,” he said dismissing her.

“Daddy, I'm sorry,” she said in a sad, small voice and was about to go when he stopped her.

“Haven't I asked you not to call me that?” He asked. “What did I ask you to call me?”

“David.” She said a little quietly.

“Good.” He waved his hand at her to leave and she walked away slowly.

“You're a monster,” Shirley said with red eyes.

“Think what you want,” he said walking out of the room and Shirley sat on the bed, sad tears slowly cascading down her cheeks, leaving her so weak and frail.

The family had moved from Pennsylvania, –where Ame was born– to Texas and they were now living with David's large, roving, extended family. The house was always busy and in chaos.

Shirley was stressed in this chaotic, abusive home. Despite legal documents to the contrary, David deal continued insisting Ame wasn't his.

His family believed in disciplining children and they did so in their own special ways. The family kept to themselves, always home-schooled and always in the poor parts of town.

Shirley didn't understand why David didn't want Ame, he never gave a reasonable excuse whenever she asked. Did he think she wasn't his daughter? There were tests and documents to confirm she was his and she wasn't the type to cheat so what was his reason? Not wanting the thought to continue weighing her down, she went to her daughters' room to kiss them goodnight.

“Mommy?” Ame called after her mom drew her blanket up to her chin and kissed her forehead and she hummed in response.

“Why does dad--” she paused. “I mean, why does David hate me?” She asked and hurt flashed in her mom's eyes.

“Honey, even if the world hated you, I'll always love you and don't you ever forget that,” Shirley said sitting beside her. “No matter what people do or say about you, don't ever doubt your worth or the beauty of your truth, just keep shining like you always do.”

“Thanks mommy.” Ame smiled and Shirley smiled back satisfactorily and kissed her cheek.

“You're special Ame, don't ever let anyone make you think otherwise.” Shirley advised before flicking off the light switch and walking out of the room.

Shirley changed into her pyjamas, washed her face, wiped it dry and walked back to her room, David was sitting up on the bed, his back against the headboard of the bed as he typed on his phone and she got in beside him, lying face up, staring at the ceiling.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“How can I be when my child isn't?!” She replied. “You hurt her a lot and it's not fair, she's just five!”

“You give her way too much attention, you forget you have two other children,” David said looking unconcerned.

“And you know too well why I give her the most attention.” She sat up and looked straight at him, “she gets the least attention from everyone in this house and she's five, the youngest of my three children!”

“That's the thing,” he said as he put off his phone and kept it on the bedside drawer top, shifting all his attention to his sad and angry wife. "She's not my daughter and I'm never going to treat her like one,” he added.

“If she's not your daughter, whose daughter is she then?!”

“I'm supposed to be asking you that but truth be told, I don't actually care.” He shrugged. “I've done too much for her already,” he added.

“What?!” Shirley questioned unbelievably. “What have you done for her?”

“I let her still stay here and I still care for her. Nobody would care for someone that's not his daughter as much as I care for Ame.”

Bitter, unforgiving pain was all Shirley could feel as tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision with waves of sadness. The salty release calmly flowed into her mouth so that she could taste her own sorrow. She sat there staring in disbelief at her husband, sadness dominated her and fatigue was engraved on her as she weakly stood up, got her pillow and a spare blanket, walking in hollowness out of the room.

“You should be grateful!” Dave shouted after her.

Shirley passed by her daughters' room but walked back when she saw something.

“Ame, you sleepy yet?” She asked and Ame shook her head.

“Play with your sisters then.” She suggested and the two girls sitting cross-legged on the floor laughing, stopped and looked up at their mom before turning to Ame on the bed.

When Shirley turned back to Ame sitting quietly on the bed, her chest ached as she saw the pain and sadness behind the blue eyes of her five year old daughter, her very innocent Ame.

___•___•___•___

Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky are best relieved by the letting out of a little water.