Dreaming of Mama

They all said Elsie was addled in the head. They didn’t mind saying it in front of her, because they didn’t think she could understand.
Henrietta was the only one who treated her like a real person. When Henrietta was around, everyone would act like she was normal. But whenever Henrietta was gone, Elsie was worthless as dirt.
The cold, harsh, lonely stone walls which they gave Elsie to didn’t help soothe her nerves one bit. The mean people in white suits weren’t there to braid her hair and call her a sweet girl like Henrietta did. They pushed her about and whispered behind her back.
But it wasn’t always like that. Deep in Elsie’s memory was a place where people were kind. Where Elsie was safe. Where the voices, patient, thoughtful and calm, called her a good girl, a beautiful girl.
But not anymore.