3

“Aurora, Aurora!”

I looked to the side and saw my friend Isadora. She was wearing a long sky-blue dress, her blonde hair loose as she walked toward me, waving.

“I thought you wouldn't come, Rora!” She hugged me.

“Isa, you have no idea what just happened. That bastard Sandro tried to rape me.” I said, crying, remembering that cursed moment of him touching my body.

“What?” she replied in disbelief.

I told her everything that had happened. She hugged me and cried with me.

“We'll figure something out, Rora. You're not going back to that house. I know what to do!”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I have the authorization signed by my parents to travel, and my ticket is already bought. You just need to get on the bus in my place.”

“Are you crazy? You'll lose your trip!”

“I'll buy another one and travel tomorrow. Besides, classes at college only start next week.”

“And what will your parents say?” I asked, worried. I had my own problems, but I didn't want my friend getting into trouble because of me.

“Don't worry, I'll make up an excuse. I'll say I missed the trip because I got distracted at a convenience store. I'll figure it out.”

“I don't even know what to say, Isa. You're the best friend I could ever have. Tell me how much the ticket cost, I'll pay you so you can buy yours tomorrow.”

“Of course not. Consider it a gift for your freedom. I know how much you've suffered in that house, and I don't want you going back there. Now go, because now the one who can't miss the bus is you!”

“Isa, did I tell you I love you today?”

“No, but I know you love me.” She smiled. “Tell me, what's inside your bag?”

“My bows, documents, and the money I've saved all this time.”

“You don't have any clothes? Take mine.”

“Of course not!” I answered quickly. Isa had already done too much for me, it wouldn't be fair to take advantage of her. “When I get there, I'll buy some. Besides, I don't even know where I'm going yet, and I can't go around carrying too many things.”

“Then at least take this.” She pulled some money out of her wallet.

“I can't accept that. Don't worry, I have some money here.”

“Please, Rora, I'm giving it to you from the heart. After all, I'm going to my aunt's house, I won't have any expenses there, and my parents send me a good allowance every month.” Although they weren't rich, Isa's parents had a financially stable life. “Besides, you'll need a lot of money until you find a job.”

“Look, I'll accept it, but on one condition: when I get a job, I'll pay you back!”

“Deal, you proud girl.”

We laughed, and soon the last call for the bus was announced. I hugged my friend one last time.

“Don't forget to change your number and call me. I want news from you all the time, understand?”

“Don't worry!”

I got on the bus, presenting the paper Isa gave me. I didn't need to show my ID. I sat in my seat and started thinking about what I would do with my life. I remembered my little sister. I knew that monster wouldn't do anything to her—he only targeted me—but I still worried, because she was sick and I couldn't even say goodbye.

Now I had two thousand three hundred in my hands. I could rent a room in some boarding house and look for a job as soon as possible, but I felt very insecure, because I had no experience in anything. My mother never let me take professional courses, not even the free ones. The only thing I knew how to do was take care of a house and children.

It was around six in the evening when my phone started ringing. It was my mother. I answered immediately.

“Aurora, where are you?” Her voice was serious.

“Mom, where's Alice? Did she get better?” I changed the subject.

“Don't ignore me, girl. I'm standing here in front of the house. If you don't get here in ten minutes, I'll destroy you.”

“Why?” I asked, trying to figure out what that bastard had told her.

“Because, because of you, Sandro had an accident. You left your sick sister alone and went out. He didn't know what to do with the girl, and at lunchtime he slipped with a plate of food, which not only burned him but also broke and cut his face.”

“What?” He didn't have the courage to tell her the truth. That bastard was planning to get revenge on me in another way, for sure.

“No, Mom, that's not what happened. That man you chose as a husband tried to abuse me, and I simply defended myself by throwing my food with all my strength in his face.”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about, girl?” she screamed hysterically.

“Exactly what you just heard. I find it very strange that he didn't tell you the real version, since he told me he was a real man.”

“Do you realize what you're saying, Aurora? Sandro is a public servant, known throughout the city. Do you want to ruin his life by telling lies? I knew I couldn't trust you. In fact, he must have burned himself trying to dodge your advances. You know what? Don't come back home. Stay wherever you are, you ungrateful girl! He did everything for you, raised you even though you're nothing to him, and you had no worries living in this house. I hope you suffer a lot learning from the world and cry tears of blood when you regret what you're doing.”

“Mom, when did you become this heartless monster? The one who stopped believing her own daughter to believe a man?”

“Listen, from today on I don't consider you my daughter anymore. You are nothing to me, understand? My mistake was having you! I was so young and ruined my youth, having to give up all my dreams to raise you, and in the end, you give me all this disappointment!”

After saying all the worst things possible, my mother hung up on me. Hearing all that made me cry like a child.

She got pregnant at sixteen when she met my father. They fell in love, moved in together, and two years later got married. We were so happy. I had never seen her regret having me so young.

Unfortunately, one afternoon my father was coming back from work, crossing at the crosswalk, when a drunk driver ran the light and hit him. He died on the spot. The driver was a seventeen-year-old boy who had taken his father's car without permission. There was no penalty for him, because he was the son of a very rich and influential businessman in the region. They paid compensation to my mother, and she receives a pension because I am underage, but to this day I have never seen any of that money. When she met Sandro, the two of them bought a house in an upscale neighborhood of the city. He worked at the Public Prosecutor's Office and got her a job as a secretary. To outsiders, they lived well, but unfortunately, I never benefited from anything, except for the school my mother paid for, because it wouldn't look good for them if I studied in a public school.

It was dawn, and most of the passengers were asleep. I looked at the road, saw that darkness on both sides, and wondered what I would do with my life, because who would hire a minor?

At the first bus stop, at five in the morning, I used the bathroom and had coffee at a snack bar, because I was starving. It had been almost a day since I had eaten, since I had thrown my lunch in that man's face.

I bought some packs of cookies for the trip, water, juice, and a jacket from a street vendor, because it was very cold on the bus and my shirt had short sleeves.

At six in the morning, the bus got back on the road. I was more prepared now and wouldn't go hungry during the trip. While my phone was charging, I looked for rooms and boarding houses for rent so that when I arrived in the capital, I wouldn't sleep on the street. I also searched for job openings, but they all required experience and references. Unfortunately, I had none of that.

After almost a day and a half of travel, I arrived in the capital. I was amazed by the huge buildings and highways. The city I lived in was so small compared to this place. I got off at the bus station at two in the afternoon and asked about jobs at a food stand. A very polite woman kindly helped me, and I asked her everything I could.

“My daughter, even though this is the capital, it's very hard to find a job. The positions are very competitive, and from what you told me, you would only do well working in someone's home. That's also difficult, because they don't want to let just anyone into their houses.”

“I understand, Mrs. Maria, but I know I'll find something for me!” I said confidently.

“Now that I think about it, I know where you might find a job.” Maria paused for a moment, looking at the sky, thinking. Then she looked at me. “At São Caetano Farm, which is a few kilometers from here. They're always hiring there, whether for harvesting, cleaning the barns, cooking for the workers, and other things that don't require a strict résumé.”

“And how do I get there?” I asked hopefully.

“São Caetano village is about forty kilometers from here. Once you get there, you can ask anyone about the farm. In fact, the village was built by the owner of the farm. He built it for his workers to live in and pay very cheap rent, deducted from their salary. I say this because my son has lived and worked there for seven years. He was here visiting me earlier today.”

“Where is the bus stop that goes there?”

“That's the problem. They have their own transportation, which only runs on Saturdays. It's practically a small town, so people only come here to the capital on Saturdays, their day off. Those who have their own cars come whenever they want, but the bus only runs on Saturdays. Taxis don't go there anymore, because the owner doesn't like unfamiliar cars and banned them from getting close to the village.”

“I see. I'll figure something out.”

“Try, my daughter. Last week about fifty new workers arrived there. I'm sure they need people to help in the kitchen.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Maria. Have a good afternoon.” 

Since it was not yet three in the afternoon, I decided to take a risk. I would go to that farm, even if it meant hitchhiking on the road. As I walked toward the exit of the city and saw women with children, I offered my bows for sale. I saw the sign pointing to São Caetano village and kept going. Sooner or later a car would pass and I would get a ride. It was risky, but I was already in a bad situation anyway. What worse could happen?

I became interested in the place because, as Mrs. Maria said, they were always hiring, and there were also houses for workers at a low price. That was exactly what I needed at that moment. I walked about fifteen kilometers along the dirt road and no car had passed. I was already starting to regret the stupidity of walking alone on an unknown road without knowing anyone.

When it was six in the evening, the sky began to darken. The clouds grew heavy, a sign that a strong storm would fall at any moment. That's when I really regretted it, but I couldn't turn back. It didn't take long before the rain started.

The rain was heavy, it was dark, and I was soaked. I tried to cover my phone flashlight so it wouldn't get wet, because I couldn't see anything. At that moment, I bitterly regretted not waiting until the next Saturday to go to that farm. But since it was still Sunday and I couldn't wait that long, I did it, because I couldn't waste the money I had. Earlier, I had asked a taxi driver if he could take me as close as possible to the village, but he just looked at me as if I were crazy. I didn't understand why, so this absurd idea came to my mind.

The rain seemed lighter now. I was very wet and freezing. What confused me was why no cars were passing there. I realized I was approaching something. When I got closer, I saw it was a bridge. Then my eyes caught the light of car headlights.

The car was red and had a horse symbol. It looked like a luxury car, which was strange since it was stopped on the bridge. I was startled when lightning struck, and in that brief flash, I saw a man standing there, ready to jump.