The Hope of Eden

Closing Door

"Where do you think you're going?"

Rosalie whimpered, her suitcase falling beside her.

Eden ignored the excruciating pain in her arm and held her closely, not turning around.

"I asked you a question."

Anger clawed up Eden's bruised and battered heart. She could've strangled the woman for everything she'd done. Everything she sat by and watched.

"W-why didn't you help Eden? She was so hurting, Father wanted to hurt her!" Rosalie cried out, turning to Mother in tears.

Nothing made sense to her.

Mothers were supposed to love their children. Fathers weren't supposed to hurt their children.

Rosalie's small body shook as she sobbed.

"She deserved it." Mother's chair creaked as she rocked.

Rosalie's rosy face crumbled at the callous woman's apathy.

Eden's hands shook from the fractured bone as she took Rosalie's hand.

There was no reason to cry.

Not anymore.

She was furious.

Rosalie's life was not supposed to be this way.

It wouldn't be any longer.

"Get your suitcase, Rosa." She whispered, her throat tightening from the pain of being choked.

"You can't take my child. You go." Mother stood. "Rosalie has to stay." She began walking over to them with cruelty shining in her vile eyes.

And something in Eden snapped.

"You will never touch her again. You have lost every right to be a mother to this child." She seethed. "You and Father have ruined my life, but I will not allow you to ruin hers. The Lord rebuke you for what you've done to her," Hot tears of fury burned like coals running down her bruised cheeks.

Rosalie covered her ears and ran to the door.

"You know what he would do to her. You know what he's done to me." Eden spat. "And you will be accountable for this. God does not excuse abuse."

Mother stepped back as if she'd been struck.

"Do you know what Almighty God thinks?" Mother laughed cruelly. "Honor thy father and mother. You have broken His command and He will curse you. You stupid girl."

Her words were like knives to Eden's once naïve heart.

Mother and Father twisted the Word and heart of God. She was an enemy of God by their measure.

She knew better now, but the sting of manipulation of the purest love had yet to heal.

"He will find you." Mother called as Eden opened the door. "He will find you and punish you for stealing her. And you'll deserve every stripe."

Eden gently pushed Rosalie out of the house.

Every step she took caused her to lose her breath, but glory to God, it was the end of twenty-five years of torture.

She would endure to freedom.

-

Two days of freedom.

Eden could've shouted to the Lord with a new song.

Yet, she couldn't.

The train ride to Virginia hadn't been pretty, but they were safe and secured in a room.