Hold Tight

Hold Tight

Golden rays of sun danced off her raven black hair. Shoulder length, it fell about her, framing her young face. Innocent blue eyes, inset like rare gems, saw things no one else could. Caught up in her own world, she played without a care.

Vivid colors danced before her eyes; Girls swirling in gowns of bold reds, yellows, and blues. Bright flowers held up their hair, setting of their sun-kissed skin. Each step they took was in step to an invisible beat.

Suddenly they all stopped. The gathered crowds held their breath. All eyes fell upon a form newly entered.

She was more beautiful than all the other dancers combined. Something about her, the way she walked, held her head high, captivated all who saw her. Stepping out onto the polished floor, she began to spin. Her raven hair flowed about her as smooth as water. Her eyes shown bright; the color of an August sky.

None could look away. All watched, admiration glinting in their eyes, as she danced and leapt in time to the rising and falling of an unseen orchestra. She danced for the love of one; one who’d never leave her, one who’d always love her.

His eyes watched her with contempt as she spun around in the backyard; Her bare feet stirring up dust from the hardened ground. Oblivious as always, her eyes were closed, giving heed only to the world inside her head.

Slowly he turned his face to the woman beside him. “Why didn’t you give me a son?” He hissed. And with that he fled, letting his words ripple through the air.

An iron vice clenched tight around the women’s heart. Looking once again at her only child, she whispered, “You bring me shame, little Mei-Li.”

As if sensing her mother’s eyes, the little girl stopped dancing. Opening her eyes, she spotted her mother watching her through the window. A brilliant smile lit her face. Calling to her, she ran to the window. “Come dance, come dance!” She urged.

Her only reply was the deepening frown on her mother’s face as she turned and walked away.

“Mama? Please.” Her entreaty went unheard.

Dropping her eyes, she turned around and sat. Her back against the wooden wall, she felt her mama’s disapprovement. Ignoring her tears, she fought to return to her place of beauty.

Off she went.

Twilight found her just as she was. Several birds could be heard singing the sun to sleep. They sang a mournful tune. A loud bang sounded behind her. Turning her head, she peeked into the house.

Across from her, an angry papa strode into the entry, followed closely by a man she’d never seen.

“Where is she?” He shouted at her mother.

Her fingers lifted and motioned towards the window. His eyes followed, locking on his daughter.

Many times before, as her father looked on her, she’d imagine she could see love in them, wanting so bad to know what it was like. But tonight, nothing could imagine away the hatred with which they were now filled. Malice flowed freely out of them, piercing her soul.

Fear gripped her. Not knowing what to do, she turned and fled.

“Come back here!” He swore crudely. She could hear her father run through the house and crash through the back door. His footsteps pounded closer and closer. Within seconds, he caught up. Grabbing her arm he yanked her off her feet.

“Daddy! Let go, your hurting me! Daddy!”

He stopped her useless pleadings with a stream of horrid names. Dragging her back inside the house, he stopped in front of the stranger. Not knowing what to do, the little girl looked wildly about her. Her mother wouldn’t meet her gaze, she dared not to look at her father’s, and the man was too busy looking her up and down to meet her eyes. A soft whimper left her mouth.

“Stop that,” her father commanded her. To the man he said, “Well? Will she do?”

“She’s a little on the skinny side, but we can fix that. Her eyes, however, are absolutely stunning. With a little practice and some breaking in, she should bring in a nice profit.”

As he said the last part, the little girl saw a gleam in his eyes that she’d never seen before. A desire, but not one stemmed from love. At least, not that she knew. For this man scared her. Love was supposed to be happy, wasn’t it?

“What’s her name?” the man asked.

“Mei-Li,” her mother spoke for the first time.

Addressing the girl, he questioned, “And how old are you, Mei-Li?”

The answer formed in her mind, but it wouldn’t leave her mouth. All she could do was stare.

“Mei-Li, answer the man,” her father demanded, “Mei-Li!”

Several moments passed. Silence.

“No matter. I’ll give you the agreed upon price. That is… as long as she’s still a virgin.” The stranger’s eyes looked questioningly to her father.

His face turning red, his eyes spoke volumes to the stranger. “What are you insinuating, sir?”

“Don’t get upset with me. It’s part of the job. Men won’t pay as much for a soiled little brat. Now is she or isn’t she?”

“Of course she is.”

“Good. Someone should be by your house tomorrow to give you the money,” he informed.

“Tomorrow?! Why not now? That’s what we agreed upon!”

“No, I agreed I’d pay you if I found her satisfactory.”

“And do you not?” my father’s voice had become dangerously quiet.

A wicked light showed in the stranger’s eyes once again. “We’ll find out. As I said, a man will be by tomorrow.”

Looking at her again, he grabbed the girl’s arm and ordered her to come.

Panic swelled in response. “Mama!” She cried, “Mama!”

Reaching out with her free arm, the little girl grabbed her mother’s hand. Shock widened her mother’s eyes. Almost by instinct, she pulled her hand loose from the little girl’s, letting her go.

As the stranger pulled her out into the darkness, the girl pleaded with her parents, her eyes doing all the talking. She watched as they did nothing. They stood there, in the doorway, emotion absent from their faces, looking at her as if they never knew her.

The man shoved her into the back of his tinted car, strapping her in and locking the door. She still didn’t know exactly what was happening. Perhaps this was punishment for not answering his earlier question.

Waiting for him to get in the car, she whispered, “three.”

“Three what?” He growled.

“You asked how old I was. I’m three.”

For the third time, he looked at her and smiled. “Good.”

That night, glittering dreams and lurid imaginings of brightly dressed dancers could not save her. For once, she could not slip away. She failed to block out the nightmare that kept her under its wing. Never would she forget the cruelness with which her childhood was taken from her. Forever would it taint her fantasies.

However, mingled with night’s poisonous stain, was a thread of light. It cried with her, singing what she knew she could not. It called to her. Never could she see it, but when she closed her eyes, it was still there, weaving through the night. And she knew. Forever would it be there, forever would it sing.

“It’s alright. This could be a rough night. So hold tight, this is not a fair fight.”

No matter what this world asked of her, no matter what this world made of her, only one thing did He ask of her.

Hold tight.

*Lyrics by the Fray, “Fair Fight”