Holding On To Hope

Numerous individuals have suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse in their unhappy lives, for many it assuredly began at an early age. Rebecca’s harrowing story started aged seven. She had the unwanted physical attention of a drunken father, the physical abuse of a resentful mother, and encapsulating all is the ongoing emotional trauma she has to suffer each and every day. As the mind and locked away memories serve to torment her. The father died when she’d turned thirteen, she was a passenger in the car her father had driven off the road into a ditch. Her mind subsequently blocked those events, and in doing so, lost all powers of speech. Not that her tortuous plight was over as her harridan mother installed a new boyfriend at home, and he was no better. Danny liked his drink, the occasional drugs, and as with her father he also lusted after her, something which was sure to antagonize her mother further. Rebecca was also at the mercy of her immoral speech therapist and tutor at school, other than having to fend off the cruel taunts of a school bully. With the fortuitous arrival of her fantasy Prince Nick, and his Alsatian companion Max, Rebecca is shown an alternative existence without pain, of hope and romance, laughter, she has only to release herself from the shackles of torment. Obsession, cruelty; physical, emotional and sexual abuse conspire to keep Rebecca locked within the painful memories of a hateful past, while Nick’s love and the love of her closest friends strive to set her free. With news Rebecca is engaged and is planning to move out, the mother resorts to despicable abuse to ensure her daughter suffers. Danny, the mother, and a seriously debilitated Rebecca leave their home. Without any clues or information to work with Nick and Max set out on a crusade to find Rebecca, his journey confounded by hoaxers, a lack of evidence, whilst venturing into a world of criminal activity. Nick refuses to give up his quest. When he receives news Danny has been apprehended for drug related offences, yet refuses to say where Rebecca is, Nick’s search takes him to York. Following which he is told Rebecca’s mother has taken her own life. With the help of the authorities and local media Nick finds Rebecca in a private home specializing in the care of patients who cannot fend for themselves. Rebecca has retreated into a silent world, a self-imposed exile as protection against all the evil to have blighted her existence, and in that she blames herself. With Max as a catalyst a traumatic and emotional battle ensues to bring Rebecca out of her protective shell, should she wish it, the alternative in that she might remain mentally impaired forever.