The city air felt different.
For Tessa, it wasn't just the freedom of finally walking without chains; it was the smell of roasted corn drifting through the streets, the noise of cars honking, the chatter of people in markets, and the tall buildings that seemed to stretch into the sky. Every detail reminded her that she was far away from the forest of misery and closer to the life she had lost.
Beside her, Mariam clutched the edge of her torn shawl, her eyes darting nervously at every sudden sound. Ayisha, however, walked with her chin raised, a mischievous glint in her eyes as though she carried a secret.
When they finally ducked into a quiet alley and rested against the wall of an abandoned kiosk, Ayisha grinned.
"You both look so worried," she said, pulling at the strings of the little cloth bag hidden beneath her wrapper. "But I have something that will make you smile."
Tessa frowned. "What could possibly make us smile right now?"
Ayisha untied the knot and poured a bundle of tightly folded notes into her lap. Crisp currency bills tumbled out like a treasure chest spilling open.
Mariam gasped. "Ayisha! Where—where did you get this?"
Ayisha chuckled, clearly enjoying the shock on their faces. "When we were running from the camp… do you remember how the guards were drunk and asleep? I slipped into one of their huts. Found this hidden in a leather pouch. They used to boast about their earnings from selling women. I thought…why not? If we're going to risk our lives, at least let's have something to survive with."
Tessa's hand flew to her mouth. She hadn't smiled in years—not genuinely—but now her lips curved, trembling with disbelief. "You… you stole from them?"
Ayisha spread her arms dramatically. "Call it divine justice."
For the first time since their escape, laughter erupted between the three women. It was shaky, almost fragile, but it was real. Mariam clutched Tessa's arm as they laughed, and Tessa felt a sudden warmth, a sense of sisterhood born out of shared suffering.
"Then it's decided," Ayisha said, scooping up the notes. "We're no longer beggars. We'll rent a place, start afresh."
***
By late afternoon, the three women found themselves in a modest neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. The streets were narrow, with lines of small shops selling vegetables, used clothes, and fried snacks. Children played barefoot soccer, and women in wrappers shouted greetings from across balconies. It was noisy, chaotic, but alive—and alive was exactly what they needed.
They followed a middle-aged caretaker to a one bedroom apartment tucked at the back of a compound. The walls were peeling, and the windowpanes rattled, but it was shelter. The caretaker eyed them suspiciously at first, but when Ayisha handed over a thick wad of cash, his smile stretched from ear to ear.
"It's yours," he said, tossing them the key. "As long as you pay rent on time, no trouble."
The moment the door clicked shut behind them, all three women screamed—not in fear, but in joy. They jumped up and down, holding hands, their laughter bouncing off the empty walls.
"We have a home," Mariam whispered, her eyes shining with tears. "A real home."
Tessa ran her palm along the rough wall, as if to convince herself it wasn't a dream. She imagined her children sitting on the floor here, imagined cooking for them, imagined holding them at night when nightmares came. The thought filled her with a fierce determination.
That evening, they sat cross-legged on the bare floor, a candle flickering between them. The shadows danced across their tired faces, but for once, their voices carried hope.
Ayisha broke the silence first. "We can't keep hiding forever. Tomorrow, we start looking for jobs. Anything at all. We need food, clothes, and maybe furniture."
"Yes," Mariam agreed. "We should work together, help each other." She turned to Tessa. "And you, Tessa… what about you? What do you want?"
Tessa hesitated, her throat tightening. She wanted to scream the truth, to tell them she couldn't think of anything else but her children. Finally, she whispered, "I want my babies. Ares is with them… but I'll bring them back. I don't care what it costs me."
Mariam reached for her hand. "You will. But not like this, Tessa. Look at you—you're thin, your clothes are torn, your face… it carries too much pain. If you walk up to Ares or his family now, they won't even let you near the children. You need time to heal, to gather strength, to look like yourself again."
Ayisha nodded firmly. "Mariam is right. Rest for a few days. Work with us. Save a little money. When you face him, you'll be ready, not desperate."
Tessa swallowed hard, blinking back tears. Their words stung, but she knew they were right. She couldn't let her children see her broken. She had to show them she was still their mother, still strong enough to fight for them.
"I'll wait," she said finally. "But not too long."
***
The next morning, the city was alive with its usual chaos. The women borrowed scarves to cover their faces and headed out together. They moved through crowded streets, scanning for shops, restaurants, or market stalls with "Help Wanted" signs.
As they walked, they spoke of dreams. Mariam wanted to work in a tailor's shop before she was kidnapped, she had been learning to sew. Ayisha wanted something bold, perhaps selling at a market stall where she could talk and laugh with people all day.
And Tessa? She didn't care what job she got, as long as it brought her closer to her children.
Hours passed, and their feet ached, but hope carried them. By noon, they wandered into a bustling mall, air-conditioned and filled with polished floors that reflected the glittering lights. It was overwhelming compared to the dusty streets outside.
Ayisha whistled softly. "If we could work in a place like this, we'd never starve again."
They walked slowly, marveling at the displays of jewelry, shoes, and perfumes. For a moment, they allowed themselves to feel normal, like ordinary women shopping on an ordinary day.
Then Tessa froze.
Her heart stopped.
Across the wide corridor, she saw them. Chloe, radiant in a pale pink dress, her arm linked with Lady Bianca's. The older woman carried shopping bags, her head held high with authority. They moved gracefully, pausing at a jewelry counter, the picture of wealth and control.
Tessa's chest tightened. Her breath came in shallow gasps. She stumbled back behind a pillar, dragging Mariam and Ayisha with her.
"What is it?" Mariam whispered urgently.
Tessa's voice was barely a breath. "It's them. My best friend, Chloe… and Ares' mother, Lady Bianca."
Ayisha peeked out cautiously, her eyes widening. "Yeah you told us about them. Oh, God."
The women clutched each other, hearts pounding.
Tessa pressed her back against the cold marble pillar, her body trembling. To be so close, to see them glowing with happiness while she hid in rags—it was unbearable. Tears stung her eyes, but she bit her lip, forcing herself to stay silent.
Chloe laughed at something Lady Bianca said, her voice carrying across the mall like a cruel echo of the life Tessa once had.
They didn't see her. They didn't even glance her way.
And yet, that moment carved itself into Tessa's heart like a blade. She knew then that the road ahead would not be easy. She would have to fight harder, rise higher, and prove to the world and to herself that she was not defeated.
As Chloe and Lady Bianca disappeared into another store, Tessa remained hidden, clutching Mariam and Ayisha's hands tightly.
Her whisper trembled, but her eyes blazed with determination. "I will not hide forever. One day… they will see me."