Rescue Nova

Why Not Rescue Nova?

Out of everything they bought that day, Fiona was, hands down, Nova's favorite. She included the teddy bear in everything she did in headspace that day. Nova had finally found her very first comfort item.

When they got home and finished unboxing the toys, Kimberly busied herself washing and putting away Nova's clothes while Leila sat with her laptop to read the latest about this Brian character and watch Nova play with Fiona and her blocks on the living room floor.

"What are you building?" Leila asked as she sat on the couch.

"We're building a hotel, just like the one I ran away from."

Leila smiled because Nova included Fiona in the answer.

Leila pulled up the website of the local news that covered Brian's homicide. It didn't take long for her to find the story and the updates. She read that Brian's death was caused by one of his girls and that the district attorney was calling it a justifiable homicide. No one would face legal action.

The next pages of information described the atrocities that Brian's men, women, girls, and boys had been subjected to over the years. Presumably, this was mentioned to avoid backlash from the community about no one paying for Brian's murder.

As she read, Leila had to really work to hide her horror and repulsion in case Nova looked in her direction. The things she read were unspeakable. Now Leila understood the extent of Nova's terror.

No wonder she became an age regressor.

••••••••••••••

The next morning, Kimberly talked to the social worker, Maryanne.

"Good morning," Maryanne greeted Kimberly when Kimberly told her who was calling. "How are you?"

"I'm all right. A little lost, though."

"I'm assuming this is about Nova?"

"It is. You were right. She was abducted. She lived with her kidnapper for years, almost as long as she can remember. All I know about her abductor is that his name is Brian Higbee, he was a trafficker, and he's dead." Kimberly went on telling her about Nova's reaction to seeing Brian on television. "And we can't get her to talk to the police," Kimberly concluded.

"Can you get her to talk to me? Can you put her on the phone?"

Kimberly knew that Nova was currently out of headspace. "Yes. Hold on."

Kimberly went to find Nova, who was in the guest room sitting on the side of her bed lost in thought.

"Honey, I've got the social worker from the hospital on the phone. She'd like to talk to you. Can you talk to her for a few minutes?"

"Will you stay here with me?"

"Of course." Kimberly sat next to her on the bed and gave her the phone.

"Hello?" Nova said.

"Hello, Nova. This is Maryanne, the social worker from the hospital. Do you remember me?"

"Yes."

"Kimberly told me about Brian. She told me that he took you from your mother when you were very young. Is that true?"

"Yes." Despite being slightly annoyed with Kimberly for sharing that, Nova reached to grab Kimberly's hand. She needed the comfort. Kimberly held her hand with one hand and used her free one to rub the girl's back.

"You must miss her, don't you?" Maryanne assumed.

Nova was afraid to answer that. She wasn't missing the woman who sold her, but it felt wrong to admit that.