Feeding Ground

Aysha is born and the lies begin to unravel

⚠️Domestic Violence and child abuse

"Her name is Aysha. It is a variant of the Arabic name Aisha, which means life." Molly said.

"A beautiful and unique name for a beautiful and unique child." Joseph smiled down at Molly, holding the tiny flame-haired bundle in her arms.

"The fortune-teller's words just referred to her hair color," Molly said. "I feel silly now thinking that was some mystical meaning to it. I guess I fell for it, even against my better judgment. It was just a lucky guess because the fortune-teller saw that I have red hair," Molly shook her head in disgust at herself, "What a scam."

Molly couldn't take her eyes off the newborn. Aysha had bright blue eyes and a full head of red hair, pink skin, and perfect fingers and toes.

"She smells unique, unlike any other baby I have ever been around," Molly commented, holding Aysha close and kissing her chubby neck. "She smells like a mixture of lavender, honey, and a dusty violin case." Molly's expression turned sad. "I wish my parents could see her."

Molly was released from her assistant duties; Joseph wants her to focus on staying home and taking care of Aysha. Molly happily agrees; this is what she wants too. Joseph moved Molly and Aysha in with him and converted the office in his apartment into a nursery. Aysha's nursery was stark, the walls are made of cinder block, like all of the walls of OriGen, chosen because it holds up to the harsh elements. Isabel came over a couple of times a week to help with housework, and she and Molly were becoming good friends. Several days later, Molly was very concerned. Aysha cried so often; Molly fed her every two hours, and Aysha was gaining weight adequately, her diaper volume was average, she wasn't sick, but she cried no matter what they did. By the third day of this, Joseph and Molly were at their wit's end; neither of them was getting enough sleep. One night, Joseph put in a tape of Beethoven while Molly was trying to get Aysha to sleep in their room. Aysha stopped crying and turned her head toward the sound. She looked like she was listening.

"Joseph, look," Molly said to call his attention to it. "She seems to like the music, she looks like she is listening, and she has stopped crying."

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"Isabel is not your friend," Lydia warns her, shaking her head. "This is a bad place, Molly," she said, looking at Aysha sadly. "You should take your daughter and leave." Lydia had followed her to the garden where Molly went with Aysha nearly every day, so they could enjoy the sunshine.

"If it is so bad, why do you stay?" Molly snapped.

"To help the children," Lydia replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing happens at OriGen that Dr. Joseph Silva doesn't know about." Lydia's dark brown eyes hold Molly's gaze steadily for a few seconds. "Think carefully about what that means."

A group of other people enters the garden, and Lydia shakes her head and leaves, clearly unwilling to say any more.

_________________________________________________________

"Of course I am your friend," Isabel said, looking offended when Molly questioned her motives. "Haven't I helped you learn the ropes around here?" Isabel looked hurt and confused.

"I apologize...Lydia said.."

Isabel holds up her hand, cutting Molly off. "Ah, now I see. Lydia is a bitter woman. Years ago, her fiance left her for another woman, the night before their wedding. She has become so bitter and hard that she can't see good in anyone, all she does in gossip."