By this time, my mind was completely off of anything that happened to be a catastrophe. Of course, that's a lot of things. But, there was still just one thing on my mind, and that was the little girl at the park. I don't know why I kept thinking about her. I mean, sure; she looks just like me, but I've seen a lot of little girls and teenagers that look like me. Not quite as much as the little girl at the park, though. I mean, it's just so… Surreal. I've always heard stories of mothers that gave their children up for adoption being reconnected with them, but this is me we're talking about.

I don't know why I can't stop thinking about her. I mean, I don't know her name… I don't know how old she is, or if she even knows who I am… Or, if she's even adopted. That might not even be my little girl. It sure is a crazy coincidence that she looks so much like me, though… I mean, she's the spitting image. Do you remember when I was in "7th Heaven", when I played Simon's girlfriend? I was kinds chubby, by left bicuspid was just coming in, and I had the thick, curly, reddish brown hair. That's exactly what that little girl looks like. I know I'm getting a little out of hand with this, but it's not everyday a person sees someone that looks exactly like you.

Right now, I was walking back to my parents' house from the old playground I used to go to when I was younger, and who do I see? I see the little girl from the park, running frantically down the street. She kept looking behind her, so I know she couldn't have possibly seen me before she ran into me, and we both fell to the cement. It wasn't smart of me to just stand there, knowing she was coming closer and closer, but I didn't have the reciprocal to react to anything. I didn't say or do anything, until I noticed that the little girl was crying.

"Hey, hey… What's the matter?" I asked.

"He's… He's coming… He's gonna make me go with him," she said, between sobs.

I sat up, and wrapped my arms around her lightly, and I wiped her tears from her cheeks. "Who's coming? Where's he making you go?"

"My dad; he's trying to make me go to my brother's house. I don't wanna go; he'll hurt me like he always does."

"Come with me. I have an idea. We'll talk. Is that okay with you?"

The little girl nodded, and I helped her stand up with me, before heading to Mom and Dad's house.

Now, we'd been at my parents' house for about thirty minutes, and she told me that her father and her brother have been raping her since she was seven years old. That's harsh on any child, especially when they can't do anything about it, and I'm more than certain that it's excruciatingly painful for her. Right now, we were on the couch together, and we were still talking, and getting things sorted out, so it wasn't so confusing for me.

"So, your dad… He just picks a time and a place, and you have to be there?" I asked.

"Yeah…"

"What happens if you don't go?"

"He makes it harder and faster the next time."

"Honey, why haven't you gone to the police about this? This is a serious thing; your brother and father should go to jail."

"They're not my real brother and dad."

"What?"

"I'm adopted. The adoption was finalized when I was a year old."

"Why were you put up for adoption?"

"My birth mother was only like, twelve or thirteen when I was born. She wasn't ready physically or emotionally to take care of a baby, so she did what was best for the both of us. She just didn't think to predict that something as drastic would ever happen. I mean, who in the right mind thinks 'my kid's gonna get raped when she's older' when they put their baby up for adoption?"

"Sweetie, what's your name?"

"Marissa," she said. "Marissa Michelle Tisdale-Hawthorne. My adoptive mom wanted me to have a part of my birth mother with me, so she left her last name, and hyphenated it with hers and her husband's. My birth mother named me Marissa Michelle, and they wanted me to keep at least that, just in case she ever wanted to find me… She never did."

I stared at Marissa for a few seconds, and I finally knew the truth. This little girl sitting next to me is in fact the daughter I gave up for adoption. I knew there was something magical about her, and I had the biggest hunch that she's mine, but I never imagined that I'd be talking to my daughter about her adoptive father and brother forcing themselves into her.

"…Marissa, do you know who I am?" I asked.

"…An actress? I don't know. I've seen you in a couple things, but I've never really paid attention to them."

"No, no… I mean… Do you know my name?"

"No…"

I bit my lip lightly, before gaining the courage to tell her my name. I mean, this could change her life forever. "…Marissa, I'm Ashley Tisdale…"

Marissa stared at me, and I saw the tears form in her eyes. Now, I felt bad for telling her. But, she had to know sooner or later.

"…Are you my mother?" Marissa asked.

"I'm almost certain… My daughter has a birthmark on her right arm, like I do."

Marissa lifted her shirt's sleeve up, revealing an identical birthmark to the one that's on my arm. I smiled slightly, and looked at Marissa.

"…I don't… I don't know how to react…" Marissa said.

"Me, either… I don't think the reaction is important."

"This is… Weird…"

"Agreed…"

"Ash, I gotta pick Jenn up; you've got Viv duty," Mom said as she walked into the living room with Vivica in her arms.

"Alright," I said, as she handed Vivica to me. "How long will you be gone?"

"I don't know. Bryce is asleep upstairs, and Charlotte is in the play room. Asleep."

"Okay."

"I love you; good bye."

I watched Mom walk out of the house, and I looked at Vivica. "What have you been up to, Viv?"

Vivica babbled, and let out a laugh as she bounced up and down on my leg, but stopped as soon as she caught sight of Marissa. I smiled a little, and kissed Vivica's cheek. "That's Marissa," I said.

Vivica babbled again, and she held her chubby arms out to Marissa. I laughed a little, and looked at Marissa. "Do you wanna hold her?" I asked.

Marissa nodded, and I handed Vivica to her carefully. I watched Vivica study Marissa, and I bit my lip, hoping she wouldn't burst out into tears. "What's her name?" Marissa asked.

"Vivica."

"Vidivividica."

I smiled, immediately recognizing the language she was talking. "You speak Tisdalian."

"I call it Gibberish, but yeah."

"My sister and I used to speak it when we were having a conversation at the dinner table. Mom and Dad would try to listen in on it, but they could never understand what we were saying. We should do that to Dad when he comes in; he'll be home soon."

"…This is your dad, right?"

"Yeah. Papa, to Viv."

"Who are the other kids?"

"Bryce is my little brother. He just turned three, and Charlotte is Jennifer's boyfriend's daughter. Jennifer's been sick, so I volunteered to keep Charlotte until she got better."

"Do you have other kids?"

"No, not yet… Don't tell Jared, but, he's gonna be a daddy for the second time."

Marissa smiled. "Aw, that's great. Congratulations."

"Thank you. I'm just hoping it's a boy this time; I told him that our next baby's gonna be a boy whether he likes it or not."

"Way to stand your ground."

I laughed a little, and jumped slightly as my cell phone started ringing. "I'll be right back. If she starts getting fussy, there's a bottle in the fridge. I don't think I'll be gone quite that long, but it's just a heads up."

"Okay."

I walked out of the living room, and went into the play room, opening my phone. "Hello?"

"Ash, he's going crazy."

"Haylie?"

"Yes."

"What are you talking about?"

"Jared. He's nuts. He won't eat, he sleeps all day… Ashley, he waits a week to take a shower, and frankly, his personal hygiene isn't all that great. I'm worried about him. I've tried talking to him, Ash; he won't say anything."

"Well… What am I supposed to do about that?"

"Come home."

"No."

"Ashley, please. He misses you, he misses the baby. If I have to force food down his throat one more time, I'm gonna kill him, so get your ass home with that baby, and do it fast."

"Haylie, he… He called me a whore…"

"What?"

"He told me to keep my legs closed, and I wouldn't have gotten pregnant."

"Ash, you were thirteen years old. You should have been a lot more careful."

"I know… But… Haylie, she's here."

"What?"

"She's here. At my parents' house. She was running away from her dad, and I brought her here with me to talk, and she's the sweetest thing ever. Her father and her brother have been having sex with her, and that totally breaks my heart…"

"Whoa, what?"

"I'll explain everything later. But, she's here, she's alive, she's perfect, and oh my gosh, Haylie… She's absolutely gorgeous."

"Honey, please come home… Jared needs you… Hell, I need you. I don't know where the hell anything is in this house, and I keep running into the glass door that's in the play room."

"…Haylie, I put a sign on that door, to let people know there's a door there."

"Well, I can't see it; clearly, I need you back, so please come home."

"Why do you go into the play room, anyways?"

"…I don't know… But, if you're not home by Friday, I'm gonna tie you up and drag you here myself. Come home."

"I'll think about it."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

Okay, so what did you think? I know there was more talking than dialog, but who likes to read a bunch of words that's only describing something? I know I'd get a headache. Sooo... Tell me what you think.