An 11-year-old girl's mum has been arrested after her teachers found a heartbreaking sketch with notes saying she wants to "die, die, die".
The girl's teachers in Marbella, southern Spain claim they found the disturbing drawing after they noticed bruising all over her body.
The picture shows a girl battered and bruised and holding a knife, with the word “volare” - ‘fly away’ in Spanish - written beside it.
The girl then handed her teachers a diary which described the psychological and physical abuse she claims to have suffered.
It is said to discuss beatings and alleges the mum “beats me and humiliates me calling me stupid, filthy, fat”.
Concerned teachers contacted police who arrested her mother.
The girl, who has not been named in reports, was then taken to a health care centre and is now being cared for by authorities.
Her mother, who has not been named in reports but is originally from Morocco, claims her daughter stole money from her and slapped her.
Jose Antonio Galiani, a psychologist who specialises in children, said that it is very rare to find pictures that are so explicit about mistreatment.
According to Mr Galiani the drawing is a clear call for help because she uses the word “fly away” and the girl is carrying a suitcase as a symbol of her desire to flee.
The girl is now under the protection of the local authority and it is unclear if the mother has been charged.
