“Do
you see anyone?” Azalea said.
Azalea’s
sister, Evelien, peeked through the blinds. A soda can fell to the floor as she
bent over to get a better look, the trailer’s kitchen sink and counter filled
with garbage and debris. “No.”
Azalea
moved to the opposite side of the trailer and sat next to her husband on the
couch.
Hugo
rested a hand on her leg. “Everything will be fine.”
Azalea
took little comfort from those words, continuing to stare at her sister
instead. Every time she looked at Evelien, she felt as if she were gazing into
a mirror. Though a few years apart in age, the two could pass for twins. Dark
hair flowed halfway down her back, and Evelien’s brown eyes complemented her bronzed
skin tone.
“How
are you feeling?” Evelien asked, backing away from the window.
Azalea
swallowed. “Okay.”
She
wasn’t, though. Azalea’s heart fluttered. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her
breaths were quick and shallow.
“You
should drink some water,” Evelien said.
She
opened a cupboard above the sink, the door nearly coming off one of the hinges.
Evelien found a glass and held it under the faucet. Azalea watched as a murky
liquid filled the glass. Evelien glanced at her with a concerned face, then
dumped the water down the drain.
“We
have some bottled water in the back,” Hugo said. “I can get it.”
“No,”
Evelien said. “I’ll get it.”
Trash
littered the floor, nearly causing Evelien to slip. She disappeared into the
back bedroom, and Hugo squeezed Azalea’s leg.
“We
shouldn’t have to live like this,” she whispered to him.
“I
know. I promise it won’t be like this forever.”
Azalea
had heard those words before. She wanted so much to believe it, but her faith
had dwindled in recent weeks. It’s why she was forced to make the hardest
decision of her life.
“Do
you hate me?” she asked.
“Why
would you say such a thing?” Hugo wrapped his arms around her.
“I
know how much you want a child. I do, too … eventually … but no child of ours
should have to be raised like this.”
Hugo
pulled her close. “It’s our decision.
You don’t have to justify it.”
A
tear descended Azalea’s face, and she quickly wiped it away as Evelien
appeared.
“Here,
sweetheart,” she said, handing Azalea the bottle.
Azalea
forced a weak smile. “Thank you. Shouldn’t Dom be back by now?” she said after
a long pause.
Like
everyone else in the compound, Evelien’s husband Domenec had to work in order
to live there. One edge of the facility, which divided Mexico and Texas, was
fenced off, while a huge wall had been erected on the other side of the complex.
It kept people from entering what eventually became known as “Free America.”
Those who lived in the compound were only
allowed beyond the wall on two occasions: a medical emergency or employment. However,
only a select few were permitted to work in Free America, Dom being one of
them. He’d passed the rigorous screening process all citizens were subject to
prior to receiving their job assignment. The government found him to be a low
flight risk and granted him this special privilege.
“Don’t
worry,” Evelien said. “He’ll be here.”
“I’m
sorry,” Azalea said.
“For
what?” Evelien stared at her.
She
found it hard to maintain eye contact with her sister. “For putting you and Dom
in danger.”
Evelien
knelt down in front of her. “You’re my baby sister, and Dom loves you like his
own blood. You know we’d do anything for you and Hugo.”
Azalea
bobbed her head. “I know, but we could be deported if we go through with this.
Maybe even jailed.”
Evelien
kissed Azalea on the head. “Whatever happens, we do it together. Okay?”
Azalea
nodded again, a sense of pride and contentment rising up inside of her. A knock
came, two knocks to be precise, startling Azalea and forcing Evelien to turn.
“That
should be him,” Evelien said. “He said he’d knock twice.” She stood and put an
eye to the blinds just to make sure.
“Dom?”
Azalea whispered.
Evelien
nodded and opened the door. Dom stepped inside wearing jeans and a flannel
shirt, quickly closing the door behind him. Tall with parted black hair and a
smooth face, Dom always looked and acted in a very professional manner. It’s
probably why he was allowed to work outside the wall. He carried himself much
differently than most men Azalea knew, including her husband.
“Sorry
I took so long,” he said. “The drone patrol is pretty heavy this time of the
day, so I didn’t want to look suspicious or attract too much attention.”
“I’m
just glad you’re here,” Evelien said, hugging Dom. “Please tell us you have
good news.”
Dom
broke away from Evelien and walked over to the couch.
“We
gave you everything we had,” Hugo said. “Was it enough?”
Dom
took a clip of money from his pocket, offering it to Azalea.
“He
didn’t take it?” Azalea said with alarm.
“He
didn’t want it,” Dom said.
Evelien
sidled up to him. “What does that mean?”
“It
means he’s going to report us.” Azalea had no intention of hiding the fear in
her voice. “They’re probably coming for us now.”
Dom
shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.”
Azalea
didn’t understand. “How can you say that?”
“Doctor
Lawson is an outsider, but he’s someone I trust. He’s sympathetic to our
situation.”
“Then
why—”
“He
didn’t take the money,” Dom said, interrupting Azalea, “because he doesn’t need
it. He said you need it more.”
“But
he’ll still help us out?” Hugo asked.
Dom’s
demeanor didn’t change. “Yes.”
Azalea
stood up and hugged him. She wasn’t happy by any means, but the news brought a
sense of relief. “You’re taking a big risk, Dom. Thank you.”
Hugo
and Evelien joined in, the four of them embracing one another. When they
separated, Dom spoke again.
“You’ll
go in tomorrow morning. We’ll say you’re experiencing abdominal pains and that
you’re in your first trimester. Dr. Lawson will handle the procedure. He’ll
report it as a life-saving measure under the circumstances.”
“Thank
you, brother.” Hugo extended his hand and Dom grasped it.
“We’re
not out of the woods yet,” Dom said. “We have to play this right, but I’m
cautiously optimistic.”
“Thank
you, baby.” Evelien kissed Dom on the lips.
Hugo
gave Azalea a peck on the cheek, and she rested her head on his chest. The painful
reality of terminating her unborn child in a few hours’ time threatened to eat
away at her from the inside out. Azalea would no longer have this life inside
of her, the life she and Hugo made together. It brought fresh tears, but
imagining the pain and suffering their child would undoubtedly suffer in such a
cruel world outweighed the alternative. Maybe in time she would learn to live
with herself again.
And
that’s when it came…
Another knock at the door.
