Shame

By Elenor Goodvick

How will a young girl overcome a predator's secret? Who is hiding among the shadows of those who love this child? Even the innocence of a child's well-being can be stolen from those most trusted. This book is based on real events and how abuse can occur right before our eyes, but it is the wits of those we trust most who take away a child's youth, a child's dreams, and a child's ability to find happiness in a world of reoccurring nightmares. How will Stella find her voice to speak the truth, or will she continue to live in the depths of her predator?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798350935394

Book preview

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How will a young girl overcome a predator’s secret? Who is hiding among the shadows of those who love this child? Even the innocence of a child’s wellbeing can be stolen from those most trusted. This book is based on real events and how abuse can occur right before our eyes, but it is the wits of those we trust most who take away a child youth, a child’s dreams, and a child’s ability to find happiness in a world of reoccurring nightmares. How will Stella find her voice to speak the truth, or will she continue to live in the depths of her predator?

Author: Elenor Goodvick

Cover Artist: Caitlynn K. Kelderman

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

eBook ISBN 979-8-35093-539-4

Contents

Chapter 1 | The Dream

Chapter 2 | The Friend

Chapter 3 | The Babysitter

Chapter 4 | The Pianist

Chapter 5 | The Lifeguard

Chapter 6 | The Nightmare

Chapter 7 | The Door

Chapter 8 | The Runaway

Chapter 9 | The Break

Chapter 10 | The Truth

Behind every mask, there is a face, and behind that a story"

– Marty Rubin

Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun,

Not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul"

– Dave Pelzer, 1995

Chapter 1 | The Dream

Stella stood in the darkness among the tree, watching them sway back and forth and hearing the leaves rustle with the cool breeze. Her heart raced, pounding through her chest, hoping no one could hear as her raced with fear. She had been running for an hour, and with each breath she took, she hoped it was warmer so she couldn’t see her breath in the cool brisk fall air.

What was she running from, and why did it reoccur repeatedly? She heard the branches breaking from a distance, so she hid by crouching within the bushes to give her some time to catch her breath and regain some strength. After an hour of running her mouth was dry from inhaling the cold night air. Would there soon be a stream or some form of water that could relieve her thirst?

Looking over her shoulder as sweat ran down her face, she wondered, How much longer can I run away from this unknown fear? As the moon hid behind the clouds, she bowed her head and asked God, Please give the strength to run until I fear no more. She stood up grasping to the tree trunk, knowing it was time to run again. The muscles in her legs ached and the leaves gave away of her whereabouts as they crunched beneath each stride she took. Her jeans and flannel shirt were torn by the branches and thorn bushes snagged by twisting and turning her in every direction

She had no clue where she was running to, but all Stella knew was she had to keep moving forward. Amid it all, she could not find the strength to look back despite each pause to catch her breath, take comfort to stretch her muscles, as her lungs burned. Was it her imagination, or was it getting darker by the minute? There was this shadow that grew, and it seemed to engulf her realities of what was out there.

She was only nine years old, and she lived in this fear of always running, and maybe it was the fact she was so focused looking through the tunnel vision that blinded her from seeing her surroundings? Losing her concentration, she fell into despair, landing in a pile of leaves but was able to catch herself before hitting her head on a tree that must have fallen from erosion. It gave her comfort as she lay there looking up between the tree branches, and while the clouds gave way allowing the moon to pierce through the night sky. She felt at peace looking upon the starlit skies and as she lay there, she began to feel warmth overflow her beating heart. The tears and sweat stung within her eyes and while she composed herself she reminded herself she was stronger than whatever was chasing her. It was time to run again and as she tied her flannel around her waist and pulled her hair back within her