I’m sorry, honey, deal is deal

My friends looked at me with longing, waiting for an answer for me to tell them, for me to be sincere with each of them, and finally, I would be.

"What is it? You know you can trust us," my friend says, making me smile.

"Well, the truth is... this journey is the scariest thing I’ve ever done. I’m leaving behind everything I know, everything I’m familiar with, in search of something better, in search of my little Drew," sighed deeply. "But I’m also leaving behind a secret I’ve never told anyone. I... was abused when I was younger," they looked at me shocked. "Calm down, it’s not the way they’re imagining, the abuse I suffered was physical and psychological. John was the person I loved the most. It was my father, and he was rough with me as a child, but despite this, there were times when he treated me well, and so I always forgave him. I was just a child, understand? I never told you about it, never told you about the scar on my abdomen, or how I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. So, after acknowledging that he’s always been bad, that I want to finish him off and that no one else ever suffers from it." vent and feel my two friends hug me, making me feel at home, well and comfortable.

"Julie, I’m sorry, I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through. But know that we’re here for you, always." Bella says, looking me in the eye.

"Julie, I... I didn’t know, why didn’t you ever tell me? I’m here for whatever, always." Sophie says, and I feel my eyes seething with her speech. She has been everything to me, my best friend for forever.

"So that’s all behind us girls. How about now that I’ve told you my secret and the bags are almost ready, how about we toast to the future?" I spoke and walked away from her, going to the minibar that existed in that room. I took three glasses and took each one, holding mine, while I distributed our drink. "After all," I said, speaking after serving us, "Together we will be stronger, and there is no challenge we can not face." And with that, we raised our bowls.

"To the future, and all that is yet to come!" says Sophie, looking at me and then Bella.

"To the future, and to the memories we will still create together!" says Bella to both of us.

"To the future, and to the friendships that will sustain us every step of the way!" And so it was that the three of us toasted, gossiped a little more, making our laughter echo through the walls of the room while finally preparing for the journey that awaited us soon at dusk.

Hours later

The silence of the night enveloped us. My small group walked towards the border of Mexico, we would return to the United States. Ben was with us, he would go to the fence, where he would find his friend, to let us cross without taking risks, just like the incident with Jordan. The air was filled with tension and exhaustion, every step being taken with caution and determination. Ben was leading my friends and I. His eyes were tired, just like each of us. He had not rested at all in those last days, but he was determined to go with us to the end of our destiny. As we walked in the darkness, the image of someone emerged from the shadows, causing everyone to freeze. Being on alert, Jordan was the first to draw his object of defense, cocking it and aiming at the person walking slowly towards us.

My heart seemed to go out my mouth. When I unlocked my defense, the figure of Camille was present in front of us, and his smile said that she was not joking and behind her, several men strongly prepared for any eventuality.

"Camille? What are you doing here?" I asked, frightened, my rapid breathing. I wanted my voice to come out strong, but that’s not what happened. Camille advanced towards me and Jordan stepped in front of me, as if it were my shield, but I could feel her piercing gaze fixed on me.

"I came to meet you, my beautiful. I need to talk to you, Julie," she said, "Or thought she would leave without saying goodbye." his voice charged with urgency and malice, causing my body to shiver in a bad way. Bella held my hand and looked into her eyes. She was nervous, just like me, but by shaking my hand I knew I would be strong, ready to face the redheaded woman in front of me with grit and boldness.

"What do you want to ask Camille?" I asked, being firm this time, and passed by Jordan, deviating from her hands, who tried to stop me.

"John is finished, I got the evidence necessary to frame him the way you asked if not better," said Camille, his serious expression.

"Yes, I heard that. Thank you so much for..." and the woman in front of me signaled me to shut up. I swallowed dry, but I made my eyes remain firm in her direction.

"But," she started, "That means now you need to take over what you promised me sweetie. You need to start selling my products, Julie," I curse myself mentally for allowing me to forget that detail "It’s the only way to keep our deal going, and ensure that John no longer has access to what you’re looking for." I knew that I needed to fulfill what I had promised her, I knew that if I did not do everything we had planned so far would go wrong, Camille’s words echoed in the darkness of the night. I took a deep breath and felt a knot form in my throat, the reality of what Camille was saying began to weigh on my shoulders like an unbearable load.

"But... Do I need to do it now? I have plans to finish before that, and you know it," I said, and approached her. I felt my boyfriend accompanying me.

"I’m sorry, honey, deal is deal." she says and strokes my cheek.

"I’ll help Julie with that, don’t worry." Jordan’s voice sounded firm and cold, sharp with steel. I know how he hated all that.

"Come on, Jordan, it’s been so long, I haven’t seen you." I looked over my shoulder. I didn’t know my boyfriend knew Camille, he didn’t even mention it.

"Anything you need to talk to Julie, I want it to go through me first," he says. "And that’s it." He closes the matter and I see a flash of anger passing through Camille’s face.

"Just like your father, but okay. We stay up like this," Camille turns her attention to me and smiles coldly. "See you soon, soon I’ll make contact," she says, and then leaves accompanied by her bodyguards.

"I’m here to protect you, Julie. You’re not alone in this." I looked at Jordan and tried to figure out why he didn’t tell me about Camille. It had hurt me, but that was not the time and time for discussion, we needed to focus on our path and get home alive. I accepted his touch and took a deep breath, before resuming our way to the fences that separated Mexico and the United States.

And so, in the cold night, my friends and their allies prepared for the challenge that awaited us, ready to face the future with courage and determination.