Betrayed

Fate had unexpectedly befallen the Stabauers. Stefan hardly spoke a word. He didn't want to remember the outrageous event. His mother ran him a bath.

"Are you hurt?" she asked him repeatedly."What hurts you?" she added. The boy howled silently to himself. He didn't want to be touched, didn't want to be helped to undress, was ashamed in front of his own mother. Mrs. Stabauer looked him up and down."Are you OK?" she inquired. Stefan immediately fled under a thick layer of bath foam. Only his head was dangling out. The horrified Mrs. Stabauer feared he would collapse. Nevertheless, she left Stefan alone for a moment."Stay calm! You'll tell me everything later," she cheered him up."I'll be right back." The door remained ajar.

"What did he say?" her husband pressed her. Herbert Stabauer didn't know what to do in his own house. His wife felt the same way."I can't get anything,anything out of him. He has changed a lot. He seems so stubborn," she worried,"he acts as if he's no longer my Stefan!" Mrs. Stabauer struggled to hold back her tears."He must have whispered something to you. What does he look like? Do you see any signs of violence? Has he been abused?" - Mr. Stabauer had hit on a word that neither of them wanted to use."My Stefan!" the mother wailed, threw her arms around her husband's neck and continued to wail:"Nobody is allowed to touch my Stefan, nobody, do you hear me!""Shh," her husband soothed her,"the boy hears us!" Mrs. Stabauer rushed into the bathroom."Stefan, I'm with you. Stefan, everything will be fine. Stefan!"

The phone rang."Herbert, you answer it," Mrs. Stabauer urged her husband, leaving the bathroom door open again and circling between the hallway and the bathroom.

"Stabauer!" the father of the family called briefly and loudly. -"This is Heidi, Mr. Stabauer, is Stefan home yet?"

"Yes, Stefan is at home, he's in the bathtub. Do you want me to give him a message?" Mr. Stabauer now tried to speak as calmly as possible. As feared, Heidi was not satisfied with the answer.

"Who brought him home? Who is that driver I saw, a relative?" Heidi wanted to know. Mr. Stabauer began to lie:"Don't worry, Heidi, Stefan is very tired, but everything is fine. We'll be in touch with you soon. Best wishes to everyone, see you soon! Have a nice evening!"

While Heidi and Andreas were betting that nothing was wrong and were still happy that Stefan was with his parents, Mrs. Stabauer discovered something terrible. Bruises on Stefan's arms and legs indicated a fight and scratches covered his delicate body.

"Stefan, it's me, your mommy! Stefan, you can tell me everything. What on earth has happened to you? Stefan, my darling, tell me! Me and Daddy will help you. Stefan! Stefan!"

The suffering mother snuggled up to the little one, just as she had always liked to do,