Jennyaydots watched the kitten sleep in her bed. Her body trembled and her fists were clutched as she fought her nightmare. Scars, bruises, and burns slowed a life of pain and abuse from those she trusted and loved.
Jenny reached out and touched her, hoping to comfort her. The kitten's eyes shot open; she jumped back. The fear on her face was plain as day. "I won't hurt you, sweetie. Remember me from last night?" The kitten slowly nodded. "What's your name, sweetie?"
"F-F-Faith..." Jenny smiled. "I promise I won't hurt you Faith you. No one will hurt you here. Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
After a bath and a good meal, Faith settled down a bit. She sat on the bed, playing with the old doll Jenny had given her. The bath revealed white strips under her red and black coat, but it also revealed bruises and marks from long ago. Faith had received little love in her life.
"How old are you, Faith?" asked Jenny. "Ten and half. I turn eleven in March." She was younger than Jenny had thought. "Was that tom I saw your dad?" Faith looked up from her toy. Her brown eyes showed her fear. "N-n-no, that's A-A-Anthony, mommy's boyfriend. He's not my daddy; I don't know who my daddy is."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Faith." Faith only went back to her toy. "It was just me and mommy at first, but then Anthony came along. He was nice at first, then one day he hit me. After that he and mommy started hitting me a lot. Mommy no longer loved me, she only loved Anthony..." Tears started to fall from Faith's eyes. Jenny felt a very heavy sadness in her heart. How long had Faith endured the abuse?
"I tried being good, I really did. I wanted mommy to love again like she use to before Anthony." She looked up at Jenny, tears in her brown eyes. "What did I do wrong, Jenny? Why did mommy stop loving me? I didn't mean to be bad." Jenny pulled the sobbing kitten into her arms. "You didn't do anything wrong. Sometime adults just do bad things to those they love."
Faith held on to Jenny and buried her face in fur. "T-t-then w-why doesn't s-she love me a-anymore?" Jenny bowed her head. "I don't know, Faith." Faith cried until she fell asleep in Jenny's arms. As Jenny moved to place her back into the bed, her eyes opened. "Please don't leave me, Jenny. Please..." Seeing no other choice, Jenny got into the bed with her. Faith curled up next to her.
"I won't leave you. Promise." Faith smiled a little and before long fell back asleep. For the first time in a long time, Faith slept without nightmares.