My Baby Girl Named Mallory

I met a girl on the street once who went by the name of Mallory. She was young and her eyes were sweet like candy with brows of licorice. As cute as she was her golden hair was matted, dirt was filling her pores to the brim, and her fingers were callused, as if she was doing construction for years.

I found her on the side of Virginia Street shivering like a sick puppy, so of course I went up to her. She looked at me with those eyes and I was obsessed, I fell in love with her. I just had to take her home and nurse her back to health. There was no way my mind was going to pass by her without helping her.

I took her home, tucked her in my late mother’s bed, and made her a bubble bath with crisp, clean sheets waiting for her in the dryer. I woke her up and put her in the tub, and I had never seen a smile so bright before. She splashed in her dirty water as I washed her detangled hair. She told me her name was Mallory, but that was all she knew. She had been living on the street by herself for as far as she could remember, she didn’t even know what a mom was. She looked to be four years old, nothing more than four. Who would throw such a beautiful girl away?

Her bath was done, so I dried her with a towel taller than her and dressed her in one of my mom’s shirts; she was a little lady. It was a size small, but her shoulders barely hung on to the neck hole, so I did some more digging in my mom’s hope chest and I found my baby clothes. I saw a dress, it was lavender with embroidered flowers, and softer than any fabric I’ve ever touched, so I thought it was perfect although it smelled like an old attic. It fit her a little big, but to me she looked perfect. With brand new sheets on the dusted off mattress, I tucked her in for the night. She kissed me on the cheek like I’ve known her for years, and said thank you like she was grown. I left her an apple on the little table next to her bed, she said she wasn’t hungry, but she looked so skinny I thought she needed something even if she wouldn’t eat it now. Mallory, such a sweet girl.

…

I didn’t sleep last night, in fact all I did was sit in an old rocking chair my mom used to hold me in and watched her rest. I’ll admit I did try to rest in my bed for three hours, but I couldn’t, I had to see her, I wanted to check on her. I left her door open for if she needed anything, but she just slept, harder than a rock. I didn’t see her turn over once, she just slept. I was going in and out of the room for an hour until I realized I was hopping out of bed to see her as soon as I laid back down, so I sat in the chair. It’s morning now, and I decided to make her breakfast. I went searching for the perfect thing when I found pancake mix, nothing is better for a kid than pancakes, so I tried my best to cut up some berries and cook her a stack that was perfect. As soon as I started cooking, I heard little feet running toward me.

“What’s that?”

“Their pancakes, I’m making them for you.”

“Ooh, I’ve seen those in windows before!”

I knew she was excited, and I couldn’t wait to see that look on her face of “this is amazing!” I put the plate in front of her, but I didn’t get that face until after she scarfed the whole thing down in a few bites.

“Yummy!” she said, and I nearly cried seeing her little face covered in maple syrup.

…

I took her to the doctor after breakfast because at the end of the day, I did find her on the street. I got some cute little shoes I found in mom’s hope chest and put them on Mallory, then we set off. She was quiet in the backseat marveling at all of the sights outside the window, so I rolled it down and watched her hair go wild with the wind. I was mesmerized, until I heard a screech and honking. I ran a red light, I needed to pay attention.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay mama.”

Mama, she called me mama! Oh my God! I had to stop the car to contain my excitement. We got to the hospital as soon as I calmed down.

We sat in a waiting room, and I got some stares from almost everybody there. I guess they thought Mallory was adorable too. The doctor finally called us back, and suddenly I got nervous. My palms began to sweat, and I held her hand all the way back to the room we were assigned to. He sat down and told us to sit anywhere. She sat in the little chair since she was too short for the other ones.

“Hi, I am Dr. Emanuel Fennett. What seems to be the problem here?”

“My little girl here, I found her on the street last night and took her home and cleaned her up. I wanted to see if she was at any health risk.”

“Uh-huh mam, are you aware that this is a doll?”

“Oh no doctor, I know she is cute and all, but she’s no doll.”

“Mam, this is a baby doll, see? It's just plastic, and very old looking. You said you found this on the street?”

“No, sir, she is my daughter!”

“Okay calm down, mam this is a doll.”

“No! No, no she's not she's my daughter! No!”

“Security! Security!”

“No!”

…

I have been in this place for five months, and they won’t let me out. Their drugging me with pills and forcing me in these therapy sessions with people I don’t know. I am being held captive, and I think they killed Mallory. I’ve told them over and over that I found her shivering, and watched her sleep, and fed her pancakes. No one believes me, but it’s true. Of all people you have to believe me, please! You have to believe me, you were there, please! Help me find Mallory and bury her properly, it's what a sweet girl like her deserves!

“No, please no not again. I refuse, no! Leave me alone!”

“Doctor! She’s in here!”

“No! No, Mallory, no!”

“Katie! Katie it's me Dr. Tren Okay? Katie I need you to calm down.”

“No Mallory!”

…

TO BE CONTINUED

Mallory