“We’ll take our child back now.”  The woman said in a tight voice, her hands beginning to pry the girl loose from my neck.

The girl suddenly squealed and I immediately jumped back from the woman.  I took one of the child’s arms from my neck and examined it.

Deep, red, half-moon crescent marks were now forming on the little girl’s arm.  Blood began to appear, filling the marks.  Ignoring the girl’s cries, the woman reached for her again.

“STOP IT!” I yelled, “Why are you hurting her?!”

“She won’t let go otherwise.  Now return her.”  The woman said, the tension in her voice raising a fraction.

I knew right then and there that there was no way that I could return this child to them.

“I can’t do that.”  I said firmly.