Face of Death, Part #1

Mellinda was a lovely little girl when she was young. I remember the first time i met her, she was singing in the garden watching the birds. Her bright blue eyes and curly red hair where stunning, the little dimples in her cheeks reminding me of Shirley temple. Her mother was under very heavy medication, she had recently been released from a mental asylum. I was a nurse hired by Mellinda's father Mr Roderick to watch over his wife. The house was huge, the outside like an old county manner white washed with sprays of roses running up the walls. The inside was grand like a Scottish lodge with dark wooden paneling and stuffed animal trophy's, large tapestries, weapons and the family crest displayed on every inch of exposed wall and a few hanging from the ceiling. Mrs Roderick had a large room in the west wing of the house overlooking the lake. Her daughter was in the adjoining suite. And Mr Roderick had a room in the south wing of the house, though i don't believe he ever used it. I saw little of him during the three months i lived in the house, he lived in his office and the gentleman's lodge in the city. Apart from myself their was Miss Penny the cook and housekeeper, and Mr Johnson the gardener. Neither Miss Penny nor Mr Johnson lived in the manner, but came and went during working hours. Mrs Roderick was thin and pale, her body sagged aged with sickness. A photo on her bedroom wall showed her on her wedding day, round rosy and beautiful, a strong women. Nothing was left of that blushing bride, her hair had turned gray in the eight years since her daughter was born, she refused any food or drink that she did not prepare herself. And so with her diminished capacity she mainly lived on fruit and water. She suffered terrible night terrors, and would not be left alone with her daughter, even for a moment. Mellinda was left to wander the house and grounds. She had tutors but they never staid long. Her mother would not allow her to go to school, she never gave a reason for this, but with her husband out of the house there was no one to argue the point. I Had a room next to Mrs Roderick's but spent most of my nights on a small sofa by her side, calming her and reassuring her that i was the only person in the room. Her aversion to her daughter was so obvious, but i could not understand how an eight year old could hold so much fear over her own mother. Some nights Mrs Roderick slept soundly and i would return to my room in hope of a good nights rest. On one of these nights i had just shut the door of the Mrs room, when i heard a strange sighing coming from her daughters door. I had been quite taken with Mellinda and felt sorry for her to suffer along with her mother. I mistook the sighing for her cry and went to comfort her.............