"Galinda, why are you covered in bruises?" the nurse asked the small girl who was perched on the couch in her office.
Galinda looked down at her feet and bit her lip nervously. "I fell over," she lied. This was part of her routine, lying to people. If she told the truth and her Daddy found out, he would be angry.
"Galinda, if you tell us the truth we can help you," the nurse coaxed her.
"I can't," she whimpered. "I'll get in trouble. I'm scared."
"Who are you scared of, darling?" the nurse asked gently.
"My Daddy," Galinda said her voice barely above a whisper.
"Why?"
"He hits me when he's angry," she sniffed, fighting to hold back her tears. She knew she shouldn't be doing this, but if the nurse could help it would be worth it.
"Have you got more bruises?" the nurse asked, trying not to show how shocked she was.
When Galinda nodded, the nurse asked if she could see. The little girl lowered her dress slowly from her shoulders. The nurse was horrified by what she saw. Galinda was black and blue all over her ribs. Her whole back was mottled purple and there was an especially pronounced bruise on her left leg. The nurse vowed to herself that she would help the child. Telling Galinda to stay where she was and get dressed, the nurse hurried to the Headmistress' office.
"Madame," she said once she had gained admittance, "I need to talk to you about Galinda Arduenna."
An hour later, Galinda was sat in a large chair in the teacher's lounge, swinging her feet absent-mindedly. She was worried about what would happen next. She hoped that the nurse could help, or she was going to be in big trouble.
A group of strangers stood in a corner of the room and one of them approached the girl. "Hello, Galinda," the lady said warmly. "I'm Mrs Espa, and I want to help you. Is that alright?"
"Ok," Galinda answered shyly. "Are you going to make me go home?"
"No, sweetheart," Mrs Espa replied. "We will go and get some of your things, then we will take you somewhere safe."
"That sounds good," the little girl said, the beginnings of a smile showing on her face. "Thank you."
Mrs Espa walked back over to the group of adults. "She seems happier now," she told them. "I believe you said she was very distressed, nurse?"
The nurse nodded. "She told me she was frightened. The poor little thing was on the verge of tears."
"And the bruises were all over her?" Mrs Espa asked.
"Yes," the nurse confirmed. "Especially over the ribs. Worst bruising I've ever seen. Do you require me to make an official report?"
"That will be a great help to us, thank you," Mrs Espa concluded, before turning back to look once again at Galinda. The girl had slumped down in the chair and was fiddling with a loose thread on her dress. "I'll take her away now," the woman said. "She should be back in tomorrow if she settles in well." The assembled teachers nodded, and Mrs Espa walked away.
She went over to Galinda and extended her hand to the girl. "Come on, honey," she said. "Time to go."
Galinda looked up at the house as they approached it. She loved it in an odd way because she knew all the best little places to hide.
When they pulled up by the door she jumped down from the carriage. She entered the house and was almost at the stairs when her Daddy was pulled out from one the rooms by a group of men in uniforms.
She tried to sneak away, but he saw her. "You," he roared, "you told them! What have we always told you not to do?"
"I'm sorry, Daddy," she cried desperately.
He broke free from the hands that restrained him and grabbed hold of his daughter as she tried to run away. She sobbed as he hit her repeatedly until he was dragged away. She crumpled to the floor and lay there trembling.
Mrs Espa crouched beside the fragile girl. "It's ok, He's gone now," she said gently. "You're safe."
Galinda managed to sit up and the woman gave her a gentle hug. "Can we go now please?" she whispered when her tears had subsided enough.
"Not just yet," Mrs Espa replied. "We need to get your things first." She carefully picked Galinda up and they went to collect the girl's belongings.
As they drove away, Galinda clutched tightly at her teddy. She felt much better now they were leaving, but was unsure what to expect. Mrs Espa had told her there would be lots of other children where they were going, some of them older than her. She liked the sound of it, but she was still wary.
Galinda sat in the lounge at the care home still holding on to her teddy, but feeling much happier. Everyone was nice to her and she had already been asked to play by one of the other girls. They had run around the room after each other for a good half-hour before they were tired out.
When it was bed time, she was tucked in gently by Mrs Espa. The woman left the bedroom door cracked open slightly so that it wouldn't be too dark. For the first time that she could remember, Galinda wasn't scared.