What does a rat do when it's trapped, run or squeal for help when they know they are going to die?
What's the point of running, what is the point of trying when there are so many rats to kill.
Would the world even notice?
They were taken back into their room and chained back to their beds. A soft comfortable prison.
They cried, they cursed, they hoped and wondered. Each girl had a doubtful look on their face as their heart pulsated in their chests at the thought of what would happen next.
Esmeralda tried to look unfazed, but the only fear she had was no longer never seeing her family again.
It was dieing like a rat, and being forgotten too.
Why did she think running away would solve everything, it never did. Because it brought her here.
"what do you think she will do to us?" Molly asked as she tucked a large strand of her long coal-black hair behind her ears.
"I honestly don't know, I dont ." Esmeralda replied with a sigh
"Is America like this? I thought it was a land of opportunity, just as beautiful as I've seen on TV." Amanda muttered as she fiddled with her dress.
"It is a land of opportunities, yes. It is also beautiful but it is just like every other country, we have the ugly side too. But we might not even be in the land of opportunities right now" Esmeralda sighed " you took the bait because of your family, didn't you?"
"yes, I had to leave with my uncle to help my mother and sisters. They are all I have, I didn't want to get married to Ishan and become a housewife like my poor mother was." Molly confessed.
Thinking about how much her mother suffered because she couldn't bear her father a son before he died.
She new being a girl that wanted to become a doctor in india was a common dream. But not every girl got the chance.
"So when my uncle told me I would achieve it if I came here. So I took the opportunity without thinking twice and now I'm here." Molly mumbled and tried to hold back her tears while palming her face. Holding back the part were she agreed to keep it a secret from her mother.
"Being in an African country isn't easy, at least you western countries have all the opportunities but we don't. " She said the oldest phrase almost every African person knew.
She thought about the greedy politicians in power and the people that strived to eat and survive. But she realized the weight she subconsciously inherited from her parents.
Seeking greener pastures without logic.
"I'm the first child of six children and my parents are farmers. My aunty came from the city and said I would be traveling to America," she said with a slight smile. " I remember how excited I was to finally discover the land everyone has always dreamt of going to.
But how could working meanile jobs in another country be her dream, she worked in the farm without ambition just like her parents
The idea of finding a rich man to eradicate poverty from her family was the only thing that would make them proud.
So she clung to that dream.
She remembered how could she was at marketing and selling out faster than everyone else in the market. How she could convince people and predict the prices with seasons but the idea of having a man seemed easier.
Her mother always said so, why would she bother?
"But did it mean she was also greedy?" She thought
They went silent when Bambi walked in with a cheerful smile. The coal darkening around her amber eyes made them stand out as she peered at them before slumping onto her bed.
"It's only going to go downhill for you ladies if you don't do what she tells you. As much as that bitch seems friendly, she is crazy, yikes." She said with a smile and submerged deeper into her bed.
"How can you be so comfortable with one strange woman using you, for money you won't spend?"
Bambi sat to watch her expression while she spoke
"Do you even know how many men she will ask you to sleep with? A beautiful girl like you deserves more" Amanda confessed as the furrows around her brows deepened.
"a beautiful girl like me deserves more huh, now where have I had that" she said and chuckled when she remembered the first man to assault her did.
"It's nothing new, I learned to flow with the tide a long time ago. Trust me it's better than fighting, at the end, you'll be the only one in pain. Girls like us were made to be used." She replied with a spark of hurt that flashed through her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a smile and peered at them.
"How did you get here?" Esmeralda asked.
"I was looking for a better life and I grabbed whatever opportunity I could get. This is nothing close to perfect but it's better than where I came from." She replied and tried to hide the grimace that formed on her face again.
"Where did you come from and why do you prefer such a place to your home?" Molly asked.
"Too many questions, donabellas.I need to sleep for my first day at work tonight." She mumbled and fluffed her pillow before laying back down.
Esmeralda's eyes closed as she couldn't help but remember the last day she spent with her family.
The cool morning breeze blew into the room and made it harder for her to leave the bed as the room was completely brightened by the sun's rays.
Esmeralda's brown slightly furrowed when she heard voices whispering but she yelped and dropped from her bed when a loud trumpet burst out. Groaning loudly, she messaged her head and squinted her eyes, ready to glare at whoever it was.
Her anger melted into butter when pairs of arms engulfed her in a hug. "Happy birthday." They all squealed.
She chuckled, returning the hug as she kissed their foreheads.
"We had to do that or you would have laid in bed all day." Her father spoke with a smile and gently dropped the little girl nestled in his arms to the ground.
She took small, subtle steps and spread her arms forward as she reached for her mother. Esmeralda was quick to catch her and gave her a warm hug as she clung to her.
"Happy bwithday, Mama." She squealed and clapped her hands.
"aw, thank you, baby." She smiled and showered her face with kisses while the young child giggled.
"you didn't give me kisses, Es." Miguel pouted while his sisters laughed.
"Grow up, big baby. You are not so little anymore." Ana scoffed.
"Live him alone, he'll always be my little baby brother," Esmeralda replied with a slight frown.
She bent down with her baby in her arms and showered his face with kisses. Her heart clenched in her chest when she heard him giggle, wondering how she'd live without hearing them anymore after she left.
"Let me get ready and head to the shop to say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Chan before leaving." She spoke softly before dashing to the bathroom.
A few hours later, she stood outside the shop with a sad smile weaved on her lips. She could remember the sad look on their faces when she told them she was leaving.
She would miss the little quarrels in Chinese.
Her heart skipped to her throat when she saw Jason walking towards her. She quickly composed herself and another route but he stopped her from leaving.
"Can you please just listen to me?" He yelled rather softly.
She was taken aback by his vulnerable demeanor and took the time to study his face. He had dark bags all over his eyes as his hair draped on his forehead. Her nose scrunched when she perceived the stench of alcohol coming from his mouth as she stared into his dull eyes.
"I can't sleep, I can't think about anything else but what I did to you. I"
"How is that my problem? let me go or I'll call the cops." She muttered in a hoarse tone.
"I know I hurt you, I deserve to die for what I did to you. But please, forgive me." He cried and dropped to his knees.
Esmeralda froze in her tracks unsure of why he was acting this way, but figured it was probably a trick to get her to let him see Rose and that would never happen.
"All the pain you've caused me is enough. You can go somewhere and hang yourself with your apologies but leave me and my daughter the hell alone." She yelled.
Esmeralda moved to leave, but he hugged her knees. "Please, am sorry." He cried.
After much difficulty, She pushed him off her and ran into a bus that had pulled over at the bus stop. She could feel her throat tighten as she tried to control her breath when she took a seat on the bus.
"Why is he asking for my forgiveness now, when I've finally gotten over all he did to me." She spoke softly and tried to control the tears that welled in her eyes.
"No, that monster could never change. He just wants to take my daughter from me." She thought and wiped her tears, her sad demeanor replaced by a calm one.
Walking towards the door, she brushed every sad thought away and wore a smile before walking in.
"Happy birthday!" they squealed while she giggled.
"My little pumpkin is 20 years old now." Her father squealed and hugged her.
"Dad, am not a pumpkin anymore." She groaned while he squeezed her cheeks.
"As long as these cheeks are puffy, you'll always be my pumpkin." He laughed and handed her a present.
She shook the box and tried to guess what it was as she peeped into his eyes.
"Go, on" he urged her
She unwrapped the box and gasped when she saw a phone lying in it.
"You shouldn't have. Dad this phone is expensive." She groaned while he feigned a frown.
"Thank you so much Dad" She smiled and hugged him.
"You are welcome."
"My turn, my turn." Miguel squealed and came into their middle, breaking their hug as he sought to give her his gift.
Esmeralda smiled brightly as she watched him giggle when she shook the box. "Open it." He urged her.
She ripped the box open and gasped when she saw a handmade bracelet lying inside it. He watched her reaction as she trapped her hands around it, reading the words out loud. " I love Es."
She tried to control the tears welling in her eyes as her heart warmth in her chest when she engulfed him in a hug.
"Thank you." She mumbled and kissed his cheeks.
"Out of my way big baby, it's my turn now." Ana groaned and gave Esmeralda her gift. She wasted no time in opening the box and gasped when she saw sheets of paper and envelopes.
"I used my savings to buy them so you would write us every, week. Yunno, after you leave." She muttered and tried to avoid eye contact as she fought her tears. Esmeralda knew Ana liked to act strong and mature for her age, though deep down she was a softie.
"Come here." Esmeralda chuckled and engulfed her in a hug.
"I'll write you as much as you want," Esmeralda confessed with a smile as she fought to control her tears. Ana quickly rolled her eyes and punched her cheeks.
"You better, write me every day. Okay? And don't cry, you'll look like Miguel when you do that." She confessed with a sigh as everyone except Miguel laughed.
"And what do I look like?" he asked.
"Like a big baby." She replied and stuck out her tongue before taking off with him trailing closely behind her.
"Mama, my turn." Rose squealed and reached for her mother from Mia's arms. Esmeralda took her baby and raised a brow at her sister when she handed her an envelope.
Esmeralda quickly opened it and took out the piece of paper. Her heart clenched when she saw her drawing.
A tear escaped her eyes when she watched her illustrate who was in her drawing. Mama, MWe, wigel, grandpa, Aunty wia, and Ana." She squealed with a big smile as she clapped her hands.
Esmeralda could feel her heart drop to her stomach at the thought of never seeing them again. She just had to try all she could to go back home, she could never live without them.
She wondered if they were safe,
If her father was worried,
And how long it has been since she left.
They would never forgive her if she didn't come back.
At least to make amends.
Everyone says they took the bait for their families,
but deep down she took the bait,
because she was selfish.
So what now?