AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just a red light. You okay?” Brace’s arm was around my shoulder, yet I never felt him step closer. My skin tingled and I attempted to slow down my breathing.
“Fine. I don’t know what happened. I just…”
“You’re pale. I think we should head back.”
The crosswalk light came on and I took a step forward. “No, let’s go.” With each foot of distance I covered toward the coffee shop, I felt myself grow even more aware of my surroundings. The buzz of voices was almost nonexistent. Car engines decreased and then revved as they zoomed by. Sweat was starting to cover my skin and I handed back over the jacket, not able to bear the weight any longer. The faster I got this over with, the quicker I could get back home. I suddenly needed the security of my walls. They’d help this episode pass.
A soft bell sounded as I pushed open the door and glanced around the small space, almost wanting to rush back out. People sat with their laptops or tablets in front of them. Some were in line. A blonde with long, wavy hair motioned with her hand and the smile she gave me was genuinely nice. She was beautiful and tall. Inches taller than me and Mary.
“I’ll order your latte.”
“Thank, Brace.” Had I still been holding onto him? My hand disconnected with his wrist and he pretended not to notice while I tried to decipher what was happening. My goal had been to become strong. I’d started training again. Taken the pills as prescribed to sleep at night, which were working, but were they? It was as if my nightmares were now creeping into my everyday life. Would it go away?
“You must be Elle.” I met her halfway, shaking her hand, and following her back to the table. Again, I scanned the area before coming back to her happy face. Her eyes immediately drew me in. The color was almost teal. So bright and grabbing that it took me a moment to process her words.
“Oh, yes, I’m Lily. Sorry. I was…thinking.”
A soft laugh filled the space as her hands gripped around the coffee’s Styrofoam cup. “It’s okay. I do that a lot. So, Gaige tells me you’ve been trafficked before.” Her words were slow, quiet, and very careful. Hearing the correct term left me even more anxious.
“Yes. Once, a few years back. I was taken again not that long ago, but that was under different circumstances. But it was by the same people that were linked to my situation before.” How messed up did that sound? I repeated what I’d said through my head, trying not to dwell on how it made me feel.
“I’m sorry.” Elle glanced toward Brace, but brought her gaze back to me. “You’re lucky they found you. Usually, the second time a woman is taken, she doesn’t fare that well. How are you?”
Everything in me screamed to say that I was perfectly okay and bouncing back, but I knew that was a lie. I was here for a reason.
“Not good.” My head lowered. “The nightmares are better now that I’ve been put on sleeping pills, but I’m…scared.” As I rose to meet her eyes, I felt as though I could tell her anything. That didn’t happen often with the people that usually surrounded me. I had a hard enough time talking to my therapist. I sighed, pushing myself to continue. “I heard someone braking just before we made it in here and the sound set me off. That’s never happened before. Not like that.”
Her gaze lowered and the cup turned from the push of her fingers. “I think we’re all triggered by certain things. Brakes get me, too. Vans or SUVs stopping next to me, even more so. Years may ease the fear we feel, but I don’t think it’ll ever quite go away. We’ll always be more aware of the little things most people don’t even give second thought to. My best method of coping comes from the work I do at the organization. It helps.”
“I looked at the website earlier. I’d like to contribute in some way. Whatever I can do.”
Elle glanced up as Brace neared the table. I took the latte and watched as he went a few tables over, sipping on his coffee.
“We’re always taking on volunteers. Why don’t you come by in a few days and check things out? See what you think. If you find it to be too stressing, there’s always other ways to help, too.”
A pamphlet was pulled from her purse and I took it, glancing through the pages as she continued.
“There are several forms of trafficking we associate ourselves with, but I focus mainly on the cases more…severe. Ones like ours. International. But you’d be surprised how rare that’s becoming. The US has seen a major increase over the years on the number of women who are made to become slaves right here in the United States. It’s a frightening epidemic. One that I’m afraid is going to get a lot worse before we can make it better.”
My lips separated and I grabbed the table for some form of stability. “Here? I don’t understand. How is that possible?”
“Well, most of the boys and girls are young. Junior High age and up. Some even younger. They’re taken and fear is instilled to the point of them being too afraid to reach out for help. Sometimes drugs are administered for dependency. They’re made to prostitute to numerous men on a daily basis. In hotels, truck stops…there are things I’ve heard that would turn your stomach. We try to do everything we can, but like I said, the numbers are growing at a very alarming rate.”
“I had no idea.”
Elle took a drink, keeping her focus on me. “Not very many people do. And when they hear about it, most think they’ll never be affected by trafficking. I just wish they would see how bad this situation really is.”
“Yeah,” I said, lowly. My mind was going while I tried to figure out a way to cause awareness. There had to be something I could do. Something that went beyond the norm. A billboard? Was there already one? Maybe if I had ten posted up. One hundred? Maybe a commercial?
A horn blasted outside and I jumped, my vision distorting. Elle faded out as the honking increased in volume. God, I was swaying. I felt sick. Over and over, I could feel my restrained self rock back and forth. Arabic yelling broke through and repeatedly the horn blew. I tried curling more into myself, but the ropes were too tight, restricting most of my movement. The smell of sweat and blood assaulted me and I gagged. My mouth was already full of something. Cloth.
“Lily? Lily.” The voice grew louder and my gasps were the first thing that came to light. Elle’s eyes were wide. She was standing before me and Brace was kneeling on my other side. Pain flared at my scorched hand and the Styrofoam cup I’d been drinking from was crushed in my palm. Instinct had me pushing to my feet at the agony that had taken over my skin. “Let’s get her to ER.”
I nearly tripped over the chair behind me at Elle’s words. “No, I’m fine now. I want to go home.” My response sounded slurred. Loud. God, was my tongue swollen like before when I’d been drugged? Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe at the realization that I had relived my first moments awake in Afghanistan. “Thank you for meeting me.” I spun, already heading for the door. Brace’s arm went around me and he led me to the left. I almost fought, but his voice had the urge easing.
“Let’s wash your hand first. It’ll stop some of the pain.”
He pushed the men’s door open and pulled me through at a fast pace. The cold water had it soothing on impact, but what followed had me wincing. It wasn’t too bad. Reddened, but the skin wasn’t missing.
