3. Isabella Viana

The rest of the week passed in a blur.

I tried to focus on the remaining paperwork so everything could finally be approved. Things at home hadn’t gotten any better. If anything, it felt like my stepfather could sense that something was finally going right for me—that soon, I might slip out of his grasp.

I was still afraid, but I held on, reminding myself of the acceptance email I had received. My golden opportunity. The one thing that could change my life.

That was what kept me going.

Two days after receiving my acceptance into the au pair program, I applied to a family in Spain. The father is the CEO of a major company and urgently needs someone to take care of his daughter—a beautiful five-year-old girl.

They had viewed my profile last night. Now, all I could do was wait.

Still on the bus, I took the chance to call my cousin—my only confidante.

“Marina?” My voice came out shaky, almost a whisper. “I need to talk to you.”

On the other end, her voice was steady and warm.

“Isa, what happened? You sound shaken.”

I took a deep breath and told her everything—the program acceptance, the invitation for my mom to come with me, her refusal because of the money, the promise to keep it a secret.

“I don’t know what to do. I’m scared of him. He’s unpredictable, and I don’t know how far he could go.”

“I can imagine, Isa,” she said gently. “You’re strong, but you don’t have to go through this alone.”

She paused before asking,

“Why don’t you ask your teacher for help? Didn’t you say she could speed up the process?”

Relief washed over me.

“I really want to, but she’s already done so much…”

“I know. And that’s exactly why she won’t refuse you. You deserve this chance—don’t let it slip away.”

Hope flickered back to life inside me, small but real. Maybe, with help, I could find a way out.

“Thank you, cousin. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“We’re in this together, Isa. Always.”

I hung up and got off the bus, walking the rest of the way home, feeding my hope that the Benites family would accept me.

But then the doubts crept in.

What if I left and my mom stayed behind, alone, suffering with no one to protect her? What if my stepfather made things even worse? I couldn’t imagine abandoning her in that cycle of pain—even if it meant letting my dream slip through my fingers.

Part of me wanted to run to Spain right now, to scream to the world that I finally had a chance.

But another part was frozen—paralyzed by fear, by the guilt tightening around my chest like an invisible hand.

Would I really have the courage to leave?

Could I walk away from everything I knew, even if it was the only way I’d ever be happy?

I closed my eyes, trying to push the doubts away as I stepped through the front gate, but they came back stronger—insistent, whispering that maybe I wasn’t capable.

I found my mom in the kitchen, her face tired as she stirred something on the stove. With a mix of fear and hope, I sat beside her.

“Mom, I got accepted into the au pair program in Spain. I’m just waiting for the family’s response. I want you to come with me. We can start a new life—together.”

She stopped what she was doing and looked at me, her eyes filling with tears.

“Isa, I don’t have money for that. I can’t go.”

My chest tightened. She was right—but I couldn’t give up.

“I’ll find a job there. We can save together. Please, Mom. I don’t want to leave you here.”

She shook her head, a sad smile on her lips.

“I can’t go, Isa. But I promise I’ll keep your secret, okay?”

I nodded, trying to hold back the sadness threatening to spill over. I held her hand tightly, wanting to protect her—and myself—at the same time.

The next morning, I rushed to college, hoping to sort out the remaining documents as quickly as possible. After hours of waiting, everything was finally approved.

Relief flooded through me, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

For the first time, I had a way out.

I went home that afternoon, hope renewed. But the moment I opened my bedroom door, I froze.

My stepfather was inside, going through my things like he was searching for something.

“What are you doing in my room?” My voice came out steadier than I expected.

He turned to me, a cruel smile spreading across his lips.

“Just checking if you’re hiding anything from me.”

My heart pounded, and in that moment, I knew nothing would be easy from now on.

Before I could react, his hand struck my face.

The blow was hard and sudden.

Everything went dark.

And then—

Nothing.