Chapter 28: New Friend

**BACK AT THE COTTAGE…

"And that was how I left America and came here," Sharon finished.

"I wasn't in love with Ethan but he was an escape route to feel something other than fear and anxiety, but I couldn't go down that route because l was too worried that my misfortune would cause his demise."

The two lovers lay by each other's side on the bed. They had just returned from their swim and they warmed each other with their bodies.

"I arrived a few weeks later at the capital, San Jose, and I looked for a room to rent with the little money I had left. I found a cheap one and I stayed there for a while. I tried to find a job but no one would hire me for anything, not even the most meager of jobs. And eventually, I was out on the streets, without a roof over my head and food in my belly."

**BACK TO THREE YEARS AGO…

Sharon sat by the side of the road begging for alms. She was starving and looked pale and unhealthy. At night, she would find shelter wherever she could.

One night, she was asleep right outside a closed store when two hooligans approached her as she slept. They hovered above her and stared at her hungrily. One of them moved to her side while the other stood guard to make sure no one was present to witness the evil that they were about to commit. The first man touched her thighs and started to lift her dress. He groped her legs and put his hand on her breasts.

Sharon woke up, feeling his hands on her. She screamed for help and the man slapped her and put his hand over her mouth to silence her. He kept on touching her while she fought as hard as she could but to no avail. His grip and strength over her were too much and she stopped fighting, ready to accept her fate.

Suddenly, a woman came up behind the second man who didn't see her coming as he was distracted from watching his accomplice take his share of their prize. She whacked him on the head with a rock. He fell hard on the ground holding his head in pain. She pulled out a knife and spoke to the man trying to rape Sharon.

"Get off of her, you pig or you're going to end up worse than your friend here," she threatened with her blade held out.

"Careful, little girl, before you hurt yourself," he said with a foul voice even worse than his foul stench.

"The only one who's going to get hurt here is you if you and your buddy don't get out of here. Don't test me. I know how to use this," the woman threatened.

The man finally let go of Sharon, helped his buddy up and they slowly backed away and left.

The young woman went to Sharon and asked if she was okay. All she could do was nod and shake like a chick in the rain.

"You can't stay out here in this neighbourhood. Those animals will be the least of your problems," she told Sharon.

"l don't have anywhere else to go." She said in tears.

"Your accent! You're not from around here, are you?"

"No, I'm not!"

"No matter. I can't just leave you out here after what just happened...Well, almost just happened. Come to my house with me. You can stay with me

and my brother for a while," the woman said and gave her hand to Sharon, a symbol of the help she was offering.

Sharon took her hand and accepted

her help.

"Thank you."

The woman took Sharon to her home which was also a place of business. They went in through the back door which was an entrance to the living quarters of the building.

"I don't think my brother's home yet," the girl said.

"Why don't you try and get some rest while I get you something to eat? You must be starving."

Sharon sat down on the couch while her saviour and helper whipped her up some dinner. Sharon ate the food like she hadn't eaten in months and cleaned her entire plate.

"Wow! You really were hungry. You'll also need a bath and some new clothes. Let me get you one of my dresses so you can get out of these rags. Then, I'll draw you a bath so you can get all cleaned up."

"Thank you. You're so kind. Why are you helping me?" Sharon couldn't help but ask since this was the first person to ever offer her help in a long time.

"My brother and I lost our parents at a young age. We were homeless and starving, just like you were. No one ever looked our way or did anything to help us. But my brother, he was smart and talented and hard-working. He found us a place to squat. He worked multiple jobs and saved enough money to start a small business, very small. It saved our lives and eventually, it expanded and he bought this building. Now it's our place of work and it's home.

"The point I'm trying to make is that I know what it's like to have nothing and if I can help someone in that situation, I help. That's what my brother taught me,” she said.

"He sounds like a truly wonderful man," Sharon said.

"He is. He's the best."

Later, Sharon was bathed and in clean clothes. The girl brought her a pillow and blanket and offered her the couch to sleep on.

"It seems my brother's not coming back home tonight. It's probably for the best. He's a good guy but I don't think he'll be too happy to find a stranger in our home but I'm sure when I explain your situation to him, he'll be okay with you staying here," the girl said.

"l just realized that I don't even know your name," Sharon said to her.

"Oh yeah. I forgot about that. I'm Victoria. And you are?" Victoria asked offering Sharon a handshake.

"Sharon!"

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Sharon. Now get some rest, okay?"

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

Sharon found it hard to sleep. The fact that she almost got raped made her self-conscious and restless. She fought back her tears and remembered her mother and father. Their faces were still fresh in her mind's eye. She remembered her mother's smile and warm touch, and her father's tenderness and joyous laugh.

**These memories remained on her mind and also brought her some peace and she was finally able to fall asleep.