Salvation

w. Stepping into the room and away from the window, he watched her small body shake as she pressed an ear against the door. He cou

Her parents spent most of their time screaming at each other and breaking things. He'd sat with the

self invisible. At least the quarrelling adults had never brought it to her; he didn't know if he could stand

t his heart to see tears rolling down her round cheeks. It made her dark brown eyes seem blurry and vague. She hugged her tiny arms around her middle,

e and raised her face, then looked right at him. Did she actually see him? He was tempted to look behind to see if there

sleeve to wipe across her face, then raised her chin with a determination he knew all too well. Her eyes appeare

n the small chair. She opened a book, took colored sticks from a messy carton,

She would be fine. He really

the child lay on the bed with her face hidden, shaking and distraught. He didn't know what he c

ne. "Happy 7th birthday." She was seven already? Had not only a few months passed since she was that tiny cherub-faced child? He frowned.

to let her know she wasn't alone. But in truth, she was; he could hear the screaming

ee her better and was surprised to see how she had grown since he last let himself get this close. Gone was the childish softness. In its place, the beginn

ing into space and it happened to be in his direction, but her eyes moved over his body in a slow, measured way. If he spoke would she hear

ront of him to look up at his face. Inside his head he smiled at her, but the movement did not show on his face. She couldn't really see him

a real one, very majestic and formed well enough, he frowned. Why would she want him to see that? Why would a young girl of seven even want a scale model ship? He looked back to see she had calmed and wasn't the distress