The Best Purchase

5

The first thing Miranda and Khalil did was walk up the road to the store. They were able to buy two bikes and locks to go with them. She also purchased a cargo bike trailer to attach to the back so they could have someplace to put their groceries and things they bought.

Miranda walked with Khalil as they filled their cart with food, drinks, and things for the freezer.

They walked on the cleaning aisle and grabbed disinfectant spray, scrub brushes, and laundry detergent. She grabbed everything that she felt would make their house feel like a home.

Next, they made their way to the clothing section, where Miranda selected a few basic outfits for herself and Khalil. She was glad to be able to buy him some new shoes and socks for once.

At the check-out counter, Miranda couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. She was sure that Ben bought her for the wrong reasons but he helped her feel more like herself in this month than she has felt in 10 years.

"After we drop this food and items off do you want to come back to the ice cream shop?" Miranda asked with a smile.

"Yes please," he smiled as they finished putting the items into the cargo trailer.

Miranda was making another mental list of what to buy and do. She knew for sure she wanted a speaker so she could play music.

After hours of cleaning, Miranda found herself standing in the middle of her bedroom. She had just added the fresh sheets, pillowcases, and comforter. This was peace.

She ordered them some Chinese and was waiting for them to arrive. Khalil needed to be placed in school. She knew it might be a little difficult to get him in school but they might be able to transfer him over. He stopped going to school in first grade after Santiago took back his word in letting him go. He said that it was too much of a hassle to worry about.

She was confident that he would test into his grade. He was very smart and she made sure that he was learning every day. He could read, do math, and talk very well. He might be a little behind in history and science though but she would spend this Summer catching him up if she needed to.

"Tomorrow we are going to go down to the school and try to get you enrolled."

"But I don't want to go to school,"

"You will like it. You liked it when you were younger. You can make friends, learn, and even join the soccer team."

"They have a soccer team?"

"Mmm-hmmm, most schools do."

"Okay, and I'm only saying that because of soccer...what are you going to do at home by yourself?"

"I am going to go look for a job. I saw that there was a clinic not too far from here."

"This just seems like we are living a regular life now,"

"That's because we are. Women are not supposed to be owned by anyone. I want you to know that. Men are never supposed to put their hands on a woman or treat her like an animal. I do not want you to think that's normal. I told you that was married before right?"

"No, you didn't."

"Well yep, I was married for 10 years and in our 10-year marriage. He never hit me or called me out of my name. Now we did argue and had been for a while."

"Why?"

"The hours of my job were so demanding. We barely saw each other and he wanted to start a family. I wanted that too but I wanted it at the right time. Not while I was training. I ended up getting pregnant by my husband despite that and I didn't know until I miscarried about two months after I was kidnapped."