Mafia's African Rose

Resillience

           Two weeks in this hellhole felt like an eternity. I kept my head down, avoided trouble, and did what I could to stay under the radar. But I couldn't stop thinking about my sister, Nora. I hadn't seen her since I got here, and each day without a word about her tore at my sanity. Just as I felt my thoughts spiraling, Zoe burst into the room, her face tight with frustration.

"I can't do this anymore, Angel. The work, the treatment... I can't even sleep without being jolted awake by some new order!" she ranted, pacing angrily. "Maybe I should join the whores. At least then I'd get better clothes, regular meals, and maybe, just maybe, a chance to sleep in peace!"

My jaw dropped. "Are you out of your mind?" I couldn't believe she was even considering it.

Zoe rolled her eyes, dismissing my shock. "The maids who've joined the whores have it easier, Angel. These men get whatever they want anyway. At least this way, I have some control."

Before I could respond, Glory stormed in, throwing her things into a small, worn-out bag. Her face was flushed, her hands shaking.

"Glory, what's going on?" I asked, worry lacing my voice.

"I'm done, Angel. I'm done being treated like dirt, working myself to the bone. I'm joining them too," she said flatly, avoiding my gaze.

"What?" I cried. "Are you two listening to yourselves? There has to be another way!" But the desperation in my voice didn't reach them.

"You don't understand, Angel," Glory snapped, her voice filled with bitterness. "I've been here longer than you. I know what it's like. The maids? We're treated like nothing. At least the whores get noticed. And maybe, just maybe, one of these men will take pity on me and free me."

She was holding back tears, trying to keep her voice steady. Zoe, still fuming, muttered, "Just wait. You'll see. You won't last a month here before you're begging to come with us."

I looked at Glory, my heart sinking. I thought these two were my friends, my allies. But then I noticed the pain in her eyes, the despair that hid just beneath her anger.

"It's better to be... taken willingly than to be... raped," Glory whispered, her voice cracking as she looked away, tears streaming down her cheeks. My breath caught. She'd been through it—been forced, humiliated. She was living a nightmare. My chest tightened, anger boiling up inside me as I wrapped my arms around her.

"I'm so sorry, Glory," I whispered, my own voice trembling as I held her close. I knew what it felt like to be touched against my will, and the thought of anyone going through that made me want to scream.

They both left, and just like that, I was alone. Alone in a world that fed off people's pain and broke the strongest of souls. Zoe and Glory had been my only friends, my only allies, and now they were gone, swallowed by this life.

As I sat in that empty room, a wave of fury rolled over me. These men—they had endless options, yet they still took whatever they wanted by force, hurting anyone who dared to say no. I gripped my hands into fists, promising myself that no matter what, I'd find a way to change this, somehow.