That morning, Nina awoke to a quiet house. For the first time in memory, her father hadn't come home. Sunlight spilled across the walls, and her mother's face looked… different. Alive. Soft pink had returned to her cheeks, and her eyes, usually shadowed with exhaustion, sparkled faintly. Nina's heart leapt.
She ran into her mother's arms, hugging her tightly, feeling warmth she had never noticed before.
"Mummy."
Her mother lifted her onto her lap, brushing her tangled hair gently.
How are you doing today Nina
Nina smiled brightly to her mum. I'm doing great mum she answered excitedly.
"Would you like a story, about a beautiful butterfly that lives far in a beautiful garden?" she asked softly. Nina's eyes widened with excitement. "Yes, mummy!" she whispered.
Her mother smiled, held her hands and walked with her to her little room.
They both sat together on her little bed.
Her mum started.
Are you ready Nina, she asked.
Nina replied yes mummy.
"Once, in a far away garden, there lived a beautiful butterfly in beautiful garden,it flew high and peaceful with a calm mind, away from the envy and wicked mind of people.
"Mummy why is the butterfly far away in a beautiful garden isn't it bored?"
Nina asked with curiosity.
Her mum smiled calmly and said.
"If she stayed close, people would try to take her wings just because they were beautiful. But far away, she could fly freely, as high and as far as she wanted, without fear."
Nina's eyes sparkled, and she whispered, "I want to live far away, like that butterfly, with you, mummy."
Nina murmured to herself I want to be a butterfly with a pretty wing so I could fly to they pretty garden with mum, very far away from dad.
She smiled to herself.
That day, a tiny seed of hope was planted in her young heart a dream of freedom, of safety, of a world where her mother could smile without fear.