I was 7 years old when I was first taken from my family.
My mother suffered from a drug addiction and my father was constantly in and out of jail.
I don't remember my father all that much....the only thing I remember is the constant yelling and hitting.
Not to me but to mommy.
I would run upstairs to my bedroom and I would crawl under my bed and I would cover my ears with my hands and I would close my eyes and I would scream every time mom screamed.
I would remember dad coming up stairs and walking into my bedroom...my floor freaked so I knew it was him.
He would say things like "Princess it's okay." "Your mother did something bad and she needed punished."
He would hug me and kiss my forehead and then he would leave.
I remember creeping down the stairs I remember hearing mom whimper.
"Mommy are you okay?"
I would ask
She was picking herself up off the floor....she wiped her face off and she yelled to me
"This is all your fault!!!"
"Mommy I didn't do anything."
She had grabbed my arm and jerked me towards her.
She slaps me across the face and slung me down into the floor
"Your grounded get your ass to your room and I don't want to see you for the rest of the night!!!"
I ran back up the stairs and slammed my door.
My muffled cries was drowned out by my pillow as I screamed in it.
I was in 2nd grade when people started to suspect the bruises on my arms and my back.
Not from Daddy but from Mommy
The teacher pulled me out of the classroom and told me that "We are going to go to the office but your not in trouble or anything."
So I followed In behind her scared more than anything
As we got there I could see a woman sitting in the side chair writing on a notepad.
Mrs Wilson which was my teachers name opened the door up and told me to come in there with her.....so I did
"Awe this must be her hello Elizabeth my name is Karen and I'm with the abuse and child care service I'm pretty much a social worker and today I have been picked to be your social worker."
She had reached her hand out to shake mine but I was shocked....
"How about you just have a seat here."
I did as I was told
"I have called your mommy to come in today to discuss the bruises that have been reported...may I take a look."
I shook my head yeah.
She stretched over and pulled up my sleeves and pointed at each bruise to the principal
"I have one on my back but it hurts."
"That's okay sweety we won't touch it but it will be noted."
"My mommy is going to be mad at me."
"No she won't hunny...I assure you that everything will be okay."
I could hear mommy in the hallway cussing as always
"What in the hell is going on!!!" She was yelling as she got closer to the door
The door opens and she comes in
She's wearing jeans with holes in them a tank top and her hair was messy like she just woke up.
"What the shit is going on why did I get a call at 10:30 telling me to come here."
"Mrs Lawson it would be better to just calmly sit down and not use that kind of language around the child."
"This bitch here." Mom replies back...She's my child and I can say whatever the hell I want too."
"Mrs Lawson....the lady spoke up....sit down now."
Mom sits down and she crosses her arms
"Why am I here?" She asked
"Mrs Lawson it has been reported that there are bruises on this 7 year old child."
"Yeah kids play they fall so what."
"Mrs Lawson those don't look like accidental bruises to me and I've been doing my job for quiet a while....now may I repeat that there are bruises on this 7 year old child....7 years old....you are 7 right sweety."
I nodded yes I didn't want mommy any more madder by speaking.
"She fell kids fall they do it all the time."
"Mrs Lawson we have papers here."
"Papers what kind of papers?"
"Mrs Lawson we are taking custody over Elizabeth for a little while....we are going to do tests on her and if these tests comes back negative to abuse then you'll have her back in no time.....but Mrs Lawson if these tests comes back and Elizabeth has In fact been abused well that's a whole new ball game."
So the lady places the papers in front of mom and she tells me to follow her
"Where you taking my child that's my damn child you can't do this you can't take my child!!!"
Mom was yelling
I seen the lady nod at the door and 2 cops came in as she grabbed me and pulled me with her
I remember hearing mom cry but in my mind I couldn't piece it together yesterday she was abusing me and today she was crying I didn't know if it was an act or if she really meant it
All I do know is I left mom crying with a broken heart.
