LIGHT IN DARKNESS

By Tessa Harvey

Again the baby's eyes fix on her face as though memorising every feature. Lacey feels love well up for this tiny being, so perfect and beautiful and thinks how she would love her child even if it were sickly and ill. Hope looks so much healthier today. Yesterday for a while, Lacey thought she would lose her. She felt anger for the people who had done this to her, to her child.

    "Will the father help you?" Glad asked gently, placing a cup of tea nearby and some biscuits. The girls eyes filled with tears. "No," she whispered, "it was my uncle. I ran away, and then that woman found me. She promised help, but it was a lie. I am to be a slave. If I run again, they will hurt the baby. One of them pushed me down the stairs. He wanted me to lose my baby. He was angry that I wouldn't have an abortion earlier."

    "What about your parents? asked Bill. "They believe it was my fault."

"Will you talk to the police?" Gladys probed gently. "Otherwise, you will not be safe."

CHAPTER THREE

LACEY:

    I hesitated. Being free seemed like an impossible dream. Then I nodded. Bill called and asked for a plain clothes policewoman in case the house was being watched.

    The hospital rang again. A qualified nurse was coming with Lacey's meds, if that was convenient. I nodded again. It would be good for Hope to be checked, and I was in pain.

    I tried to hide it, but Gladys had noticed, I think.

    The health nurse came first. She was gentle and kind with soft dark hair and eyes.