Next part to The Forgotten Angel Part 2

After a moment, a knock on the door surprised Sage. She gulped and looked at the door as it opened. Her mother entered the room with a band-aid and some rubbing alcohol. She sat down on the bed beside Sage and took the Kleenex from her.
“Don’t be mad or upset about your father, he’s had a long hard day and he doesn’t need anything else to upset him” her mother said softly, cleaning up Sage’s cheek. Sage stared at her mother in wonder.
“Momma… why are you being so nice?”
Sage’s mother looked at her daughter before shaking her head.
“I’m sorry if I’ve been tough on you.. Money’s been tight, and I’ve been a little stressed out. Sage, I DO love you still… just because I’m sometimes rough with you”
Sage nodded, then hugged her mother tightly. Her mother sighed and pushed Sage away from her.
“No hugs.. I don’t like hugs” she muttered plainly. “Now stay up here, don’t make a sound or your father will be after you” she exclaimed as she got up and left the room. Sage watched her, then looked at the floor again when the door closed.
“Why can’t I be like the other kids… the normal kids at school” she pouted and started crying. She laid down on her bed, and eventually cried herself to sleep.
Later that evening, Sage was awakened by yelling. She sat up a listened. Her parents were arguing in the room next to hers. She sighed and sat up, tears falling down her cheeks once more. She knew what was about to happen. It was the same thing ever since she was old enough to remember. Her parents would argue for about half an hour, then her father would come in, no matter what time it was, and yell at Sage for being a worthless child, then he’d stomp outside, and slam things around in the garage before getting into his car and going to the bar to “cool off”. Sage closed her eyes tightly, trying desperately to block out the yelling and the stomping of her father’s feet down the hallway towards her room. She winced as her door was slammed open and her father came barrelling in. He went over to Sage, slapped her across the face and told her to get up. She obeyed, afraid to know what would happen if she didn’t. He dragged her by the shoulder down the stairs, nearly pulling her arm out of the socket. She cried out as her father’s large strong fingers dug into the skin on her shoulder. He shoved her roughly into the living room where her most prized possession, her stuffed rabbit sat on the chair comfortably. He pointed at it and glared at her.
“What the hell is that thing doing down here???” he boomed loudly. Before Sage could answer, her father went over and grabbed the stuffed animal. He grabbed it’s head and twisted the neck, ripping the head off the stuffed animal. Sage blinked, her mouth agape in horror.
“DADDY!!!” she screamed, running over to him and kicking his leg bravely. Large tears were now streaming down her face as she grabbed the ripped remains of her only friend and ran up the stairs. Her father chased her to the stairway before giving up and going outside to his garage.
Sage ran into her room and dropped down on her knees beside the bed. She laid the ripped remains of her favorite stuffed animal on the bed in front of her and stared down at it, not bothering with the tears streaming down her cheeks. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as the door to her room opened slowly.  Her mother peeked her head in and sighed.
“Are you alright honey?” She asked softly. For once, her mother didn’t smell of beer and cigarettes. For once, her mother’s voice was soft, and caring. For once, Sage could hear the love she so desperately longed for. Sage stared at her mother, unsure of what to do, not knowing whether her mother would snap and hurt her. Her mother came into the room slowly and sat on the edge of Sage’s bed beside the ripped toy. She gently picked it up and held it in her hands as she looked at Sage. She sighed and leaned forward, ruffling Sage’s hair gently before standing and leaving the room with the ripped toy in her hands. Sage watched her, then as the door shut, leaned onto her bed and sobbed. She knew what was going to happen to her toy, she knew where it was going. She sighed and sat down on the bed, her eyes fixated on the floor.
I wish I wasn’t here.. I wish I wasn’t born. she thought before standing and going to her window. She stared out, seeing other kids playing in the light from the setting sun. Why can’t I be happy like that?

A few nights later, Sage sat outside on the front step. She shivered and rubbed her bare arms, trying to warm them. Her father had locked her out of the house once more, leaving her to sit in the dark, cold air of night in only her small pink flannel nightgown. She looked around but was unable to see anything in the blackness. She shivered once more and huddled close to the door, wishing it would open so she could go into her nice warm bed. Deep down, she knew her wishes and hopes were pathetic, stupid. At least, that’s what poppa had told her. That she was pathetic, and stupid, and that she shouldn’t have hopes and dreams because she wouldn’t live up to them. She sighed and stood up, keeping her hands tightly on her arms. maybe I should run away. Maybe I could go to someone’s house, and they’d adopt me, and I’ll know what love is she smiled softly, briefly as she imagined herself in a happy, loving family. A silent tear worked it’s way down Sage’s cheek slowly. She glanced up at her house, then back down the street, faintly visible through the dark of night. She glanced back up to her house, then turned and stepped off the steps and started off down the walkway. “Goodbye” she whispered as she left her yard and started off down the street, disappearing into the night with nothing but her nightgown.

The small town was awakened by an ambulance rushing down main street. It stopped in front of a small blue bungalow. The paramedics jumped out, stopping for a brief moment to take in the scene. A small girl lay on the ground in a tiny pink flannel nightgown by the picket fence surrounding the house. The owner of the house, a kind elderly lady stood by the gate, a hand covering her mouth in shock. A policeman was standing near the little girl, simply staring down at her. He shook his head slowly as he glanced at the paramedics, sadness showing in his eyes. He took his hat off, wiped his eyes and took a deep breath before going over to the paramedics.
“Too late guys… it’s too late” he said softly, glancing back at the child’s body. The paramedics nodded, then went over and gently put the girl’s body on a gurney.
“We’ll pronounce her at the hospital” one of them said, rolling the gurney back to the ambulance. At the door of the ambulance, they paused, looking at the girl.
“She looks not even 10 yet, what was she doing outside at night?” one medic muttered. The other one shook his head.
“Maybe this has something to do with it…” he pointed to her arm where a bruise in the shape of a hand was visible. The other medic looked at his partner.
“You don’t think…”
The second medic turned to the officer.
“Once we find out who she is, I think you better pay a visit to her parents. Find out where that bruise came from!”
The officer nodded, then turned and went back to the owner of the house to get her statement and more information. The paramedics loaded the girl’s body into the ambulance and headed back for the hospital.

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The Forgotten Angel Part 4[<LAST PAGE!]