Fernando, along with his entire family and that of his girlfriend, Sofía, had organized a grand party to celebrate her birthday—and to ask for her hand in marriage. While everyone was excitedly preparing for both events, which would take place as soon as Sofía arrived home, she had something very different in mind: ending the relationship.
When Sofía arrived at the party with her friend María Fernanda González, they were both surprised to see so many people gathered. Neither understood the reason for the celebration. Upon entering, Fernando and Sofía's families, along with their friends, welcomed them warmly and wished Sofía a happy birthday.
"A simple phone call would have been enough," Sofía muttered, visibly uncomfortable.
"They asked us to come, but we don't know why either," one of her friends replied.
As everyone gathered around to greet her, Sofía, still not fully understanding what was happening, went to get a drink with María Fernanda. When they stepped into the courtyard, they noticed that everyone was waiting there—and as soon as Sofía appeared, the crowd began clapping.
As they approached Fernando and his family, Sofía whispered to María Fernanda that she was planning to end the relationship that very night. But before she could say anything, Fernando knelt before her and proposed in front of everyone. Overwhelmed by pressure from family and friends, and despite her true feelings, Sofía reluctantly said yes.
Everyone celebrated the engagement joyfully, asking when the wedding would be. Fernando announced it would take place in a month. Guests toasted to the couple, wishing them a life filled with love, prosperity, and a beautiful family.
During that month, Sofía tried several times to confide in her mother, admitting that she had serious doubts about marrying Fernando. She said she didn't feel he was the right person for her. But her mother dismissed her fears as mere insecurity.
"You're just being indecisive again," she scolded. "You never know what you want. I'm not going to let you humiliate Fernando, who has been nothing but respectful to us. You're getting married, and that's final."
The following month, Sofía and Fernando were married. The ceremony was romantic and charming, but Sofía silently wept, feeling trapped and deeply unhappy.
For their honeymoon, they traveled to Mykonos, Greece. There, filled with fear and confusion, Sofía began rejecting Fernando's sexual advances. Enraged, Fernando reacted violently and crossed every boundary. Sofía tried to resist, but he grew even more aggressive, ignoring her pain and pleas.
When her screams didn't stop, Fernando drugged her. While she was numb and sedated, he continued abusing her. Two days later, as the effects began to wear off, he abandoned her in a disoriented and vulnerable state.
When Sofía partially regained consciousness, she tried to stand, but the lingering drugs made it difficult to move. Hours later, she managed to get up and went to the bathroom to clean herself.
In the mirror, she saw her body covered in bruises and wounds. The sight broke her—she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Every part of her body ached, her face burned with shame and rage. Through the tears, she remembered all the times she had begged her mother not to marry Fernando. She remembered the public proposal that had cornered her, knowing that just two months earlier he had already abused her multiple times. The most haunting memory was the day he found birth control pills in her purse. Furious, he dragged her home, locked the doors, and beat her so severely that she was left physically and emotionally scarred.
Still in pain, she stepped into the shower, desperate to wash away what had happened. But every movement hurt. She cried and screamed from the unbearable pain.
This hell can't go on, she told herself.
Fueled by that conviction, she left the bathroom, packed her bags, and rushed to the airport. She would not return to Mexico. Her destination was the United States.
Upon arrival, she searched for a shelter for battered women. She was referred to the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Abuse and went there seeking safety and a new beginning.
At the shelter, they conducted medical exams and asked if she wanted to contact her family. Sofía said no—she feared they might tell Fernando where she was. She never wanted him to find her again or relive the cycle of violence, beatings, and rape.
The shelter agreed to keep her whereabouts confidential until she felt ready to face her past. A year later, with her consent, an arrest warrant was issued for Fernando, and Interpol was notified.
Once his location in Mexico was confirmed, the authorities traveled there and arrested him. Lucrecia, Sofía's sister and a worker at the shelter, was part of the operation. She was the one who gathered the family to explain the abuse Sofía had endured and to clarify that the only person Sofía did not want to see was her mother.
Everyone visited Sofía—except her mother. When she learned about the visit, Sofía panicked, afraid her mother or even Fernando might be among them, but Lucrecia reassured her.
"Neither of them is here," she said gently. "Fernando is in jail in New York, and he'll be there for a long time."
Her relatives hugged her and apologized for not helping sooner. Sofía replied calmly, "It's not your fault. The one responsible is my mother. I told her I didn't want to marry him, and she forced me. That's why I never want to see her again."
Everyone respected her decision and continued to visit her often. As for her mother, Sofía could never forgive her—for failing to protect her when she needed it most.