Yadira

It was my birthday, a day that should have brought joy and excitement like in every girl's dreams. But for me, it was different. Dread loomed over me, matching the fears that haunted my parents. I vividly remembered the conversation we had on my sweet sixteen, where the truth of our journey to America unfolded. They sacrificed everything for me, leaving Colombia behind, my mother pregnant and my dad abandoning all he cherished.

Their words were not sugar-coated; they revealed the harsh reality of our circumstances. Last night, I had a nightmare that lingered throughout the day, casting a shadow over my every move. It felt as though I was living with eyes wide open, my senses heightened, anticipating an impending threat. I feared they were coming for me.

Mom and Dad chose not to acknowledge my birthday, keeping the day hushed within our small household. Their restraint reflected their own apprehension, and I mirrored their subdued emotions. When I arrived home, the silence greeted me, a familiar occurrence. Mom would be occupied cleaning the houses she worked for, and though I had aided her in the past, my focus had shifted to my final year of high school, leaving her to handle the load alone.

As for Dad, he toiled away at his two jobs, either fixing cars at the garage or cooking in the restaurant. Mom confided that he had taken on extra shifts due to the rising inflation and interest rates. It pained me to think of Dad's past, owning a successful restaurant back in Cuba. Guilt seeped within me, knowing that their struggles in Kansas were partly because of me. If it weren't for my existence, they wouldn't have to endure such hardships.

"Hello!" I screamed, my voice reverberating through the empty house. The footsteps upstairs grew louder, a heavy cadence that sent shivers down my spine. I strained my ears, hoping for a familiar voice to respond, but silence enveloped me like a suffocating cloak. Who could be lurking in these secluded woods, apart from our family?

My heart thudded against my chest, its rhythm matching the accelerated pace of my thoughts. Dread tightened its grip on me as the realization dawned—it was happening, the one thing I had always dreaded. I hesitated to ascend the stairs, my feet instead guiding me towards the front door, my movements slow and deliberate, as if time were slipping through my trembling fingers.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice sliced through the air, sending a chill down my spine. I turned, my eyes meeting his dark, piercing gaze, his ominous presence confirming my worst fears. He was here for me, the embodiment of the nightmare that had haunted my restless nights. My heart ceased its frantic race, seemingly leaving my body behind.

"Jefe! Ella está aquí!" A hushed exchange of words reached my ears, their significance amplifying the turmoil within. He had found me, and the implications raced through my mind like a torrential storm. Did his presence mean that my parents were no longer alive? The very thought struck my core, a searing ache that mingled with the fear coursing through my veins. They had shielded me from this danger, sacrificing everything to keep me hidden, and now the specter I had evaded had materialized before me.

Resistance seemed futile, an impossibility in the face of such overwhelming power. My body quivered, unable to muster the strength to fight back as he swiftly covered my mouth. Panic surged, my head spinning as the weight of his touch pressed against me. Darkness encroached, engulfing my senses, and with a muffled gasp, my body collided with the unforgiving floor.

I groggily blinked my eyes open, the disorienting haze slowly lifting as I became aware of my surroundings. Panic surged through me as I realized I was strapped to something, unable to move. My heart raced, and my mind raced even faster, trying to comprehend what was happening.

As my vision cleared, I took in the small, cramped space around me. It was an airplane. But how did I end up here? Questions flooded my mind, but the absence of other passengers intensified my fear. I was alone, surrounded by empty seats.

I peered out the window, desperately seeking answers, only to be met with an endless expanse of skies. No land, no familiar landmarks. Just an infinite stretch of blue. The realization sank in—I was no longer where I was supposed to be.

A surge of drowsiness washed over me, clouding my thoughts. Panic mingled with exhaustion as I fought to stay awake, desperate to make sense of my situation. Fear gripped me, its icy fingers squeezing my heart, while worry gnawed at my every thought.

Where were my parents? How did I end up on this plane? The uncertainty loomed over me, casting a dark shadow on my already fragile state of mind. Questions swirled, but answers seemed elusive, lost in the vast unknown that surrounded me.

I closed my eyes, the weight of confusion and fear heavy on my chest, and prayed for clarity, for the safety of my loved ones. As the plane rumbled on, carrying me to an uncertain destination, sleep beckoned again, providing a temporary escape from the turmoil that consumed me.

* * *

I lay there, eyes squeezed shut, my senses on high alert, as I felt the gentle caress of the wind against my skin, whispering secrets of the unknown. The air inside the plane carried a faint scent of metal and fuel, mingled with the unmistakable scent of fear that lingered in the confined space. It was a stifling mix that fueled the rising panic within me.

I could hear the muffled voices of the two men, their conversation punctuated by the sound of their footsteps as they moved around the plane. Their words sent shivers down my spine, confirming my worst fears. They spoke of their success, their callous words revealing the unthinkable truth: my parents were dead.

I kept my breathing steady, my sobs muffled, pretending to be asleep as they approached. Suddenly, strong hands lifted me with a firm yet rough grip. The touch sent a chill through my body, a mix of fear and helplessness. It was in that moment, suspended in the air, that I realized the weight of my vulnerability.

The plane came to a halt, and the sounds of the engines ceased. I could sense the shift in the environment, the transition from the humming of the aircraft to the stillness of the unknown. The men's voices grew closer, their words etching into my soul. Their confirmation of my worst fears shattered the last remnants of hope within me.

As they carried me, their footsteps resonating against the pavement, I caught snippets of their conversation. "Mission accomplished," one of them said, his voice devoid of any remorse. The other responded with a chilling confirmation of my parents' fate. The door of the car closed with a resounding thud, sealing my fate.

Tears streamed down my face as I continued to feign sleep, the sobs caught in the recesses of my throat. The world outside seemed blurry and distant, as if mirroring the shattered pieces of my life. In that moment, I felt a profound sense of loss and a desperate longing for the safety and comfort that my parents had once provided.

Yet, even in the midst of my despair, a flicker of determination ignited within me. I would not let their sacrifice be in vain. Through the darkness that enveloped me, I vowed to find answers, seek justice, and uncover the truth behind the sinister plot that had stolen everything from me.