little bird | a.p

THREE

I woke up in my bed still smiling from the night before. I happily got ready for work, something that's easier now that Alex is there every morning.

I pulled on a white top with old grease stains and shorts. I cheerily walked into the shop and began tidying up before any of the workers showed up. Once they started wandering in, I began helping them work. A familiar car engine could be heard outside of the shop. My insides grew excited as I knew Alex was here. He walked in with the same stern look he always had. Our eyes connected and he smiled at me. I waved back at him and continued working.

I didn't want anyone at my work to know what was going on between us, especially my Pai. What was even going on between us? Were we official? Exclusive? I wasn't sure.

I could hear Alex talking to another worker. Hearing his voice reminded me of the way his voice hummed against my body when he moaned.

I snapped out of my thoughts when my Pai called to me. "Maria, please don't be too busy, I need a favour."

"Yes, Pai Pai?" I turned to him.

"Can you go into town for me and grab leather cleaner? I cannot get this stubborn stain out of the back seat." He smiled and handed me money.

I nodded and turned on my heel, my face burning bright from his comment. I walked past Alex and glanced at him. "Maria." He called to me. He was crouched down fixing the tire. I stopped in front of him and looked down at him.

"Be safe." He said and stood up to his full height. He quickly looked behind him and back to me. His hand grabbed my waist and pulled me in, planting a small kiss on my forehead. My cheeks burned bright red. I smiled and walked away, heading back to the market.

My walk was short. I reached the market and began putting the leather cleaner spray in my burlap sack. Just then, a van pulled up along side of me. The door opened quickly. Before I knew it, I was being taken off of the street and being pulled into the van. I screamed and kicked and began fighting them off. A man began grabbing at my clothes.

"It's her, I know it is!" He yelled

I fought him off harder. His rough hands ripped a piece of my shirt. I reached into my bag and grabbed the bottle, pointing it at his face and spraying it. He began to scream and kick, sending his foot into my chest. My body hit the van door. I immediately reached behind me and opened it, crawling out and running away. The van sped off as a woman rushed to my side. I thanked her and ran off to my Pai's shop.

"Pai!" I called out. "Alex!" I ran into the garage and fell into one of the workers. My Pai came running out of his office.

"Maria!" He ran to me. "Oh, my Maria!"

Alex appeared next to him. An extreme look of worry on his face.

"Maria, what happened?" Alex asked me.

I cried into my Pai's arms. "The men put me into their van. They kept saying they knew me." My Pai's grip on my arms tightened and then let go. He looked away from me. "I knew this day would come."

Alex stood by my side as my Pai slowly walked into his office. "Maria, your clothes.. did they hurt you?"

I shook my head. "No, not like that." Alex pulled me into a hug, not caring who saw us. "I'm sorry." He said.

"It's not your fault."

Alex released me. "What does your Pai mean?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Alex, come on." I pulled him into my Pai's office. My Pai no longer has tears, but an angry expression.

"Alex, has Maria told you about her Mai?"

Alex shook his head. "No."

He motioned for us to sit. "Maria's Mai was a traveler visiting Rio. She was taken by men and forced to into bad work. They killed her once she was pregnant with Maria." His eyes grew teary. "I came out of my shop one morning to see the most beautiful baby girl wrapped in a blanket, crying for help. So, I raised my Maria from then. I didn't think people would still hear about the stories."