Trafficked -- Beaten -- Trapped
When eighteen-year-old Stacy Degray sets off to visit Felipe, a charming guy she met on the internet, she has no idea that she is being lured to his home country Malaguay to be auctioned off as a soldier's bride. All...
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In a country like Malaguay which has been shaken by civil war for decades, death is an everyday occurrence. Felipe's is no exception. When I ask Miguel about the funeral, he informs me, without the slightest hint of emotion, that his cousin was placed in the mass grave outside the village with the rest of the bodies. It's an odd concept. People at home make such a big fuss out of family burials. Secretly, I'm glad since I dreaded going.
The only one remotely impacted by Felipe's death is Tomás. He is even broodier than usual, snapping at everyone who dares to speak more than two words to him. With the weekend marking the end of basic training, I'm relieved that I won't have to deal with him anymore on a daily basis. We all head to town for a drink to celebrate after the last training on Friday afternoon.
While the others turn to the bar, I quietly slip through a side door of the church. I'm mesmerized. The colorful glass of the mosaic windows filters out the bright sunlight, yet the hundreds of long, narrow candles that flicker against the arched walls offer a warm and comforting light. My gaze rests on the cross as I light a spare candle for Felipe.
"Goodbye, Felipe. I hope you found peace." When I remember his smile, a single tear rolls down my cheek. I had hated him for his betrayal with Charo, but a small piece of my heart will always hold a special place for him. After all, he was my first love, and I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him.
Leaving the church, I step into the bar.
Tomás looks up from his glass. "Where were you?"
"I wanted to light a candle for Felipe."
He snorts as he downs his shot in one go, signaling to the bartender to pour him another. "Why bother? It's not as if any one of us will go to heaven."
"You shouldn't say that."
"Come on, Stacy. As soldiers, we kill people. How can we ever go to heaven?"
"Any sin can be forgiven if you truly repent."
"I'm sure you're the expert." An unbearable smirk crosses his lips and he empties the glass again. "Besides, why would you light a candle for Felipe? You hated him."
"Forgiveness is another one of God's wisdoms."
"If you say so." He pours another shot down his throat.
"You miss him, don't you?"
"He was my best friend and the only one I had left."
"That's not true. You have Shauna."
He shakes his head, chuckling under his breath, and tosses a few bills on the counter. "C'mon, I'll take you home."
"What about the celebration?"
"For us, there's nothing to celebrate."
~~~~
In stark contrast to funerals going by almost unnoticed, the union of one of Malaguay's elite is celebrated in elaborate style. For Ramon and Bettina's wedding, Miguel arranges for a seamstress to have a special dress sewn for me that highlights my curves and looks astonishing. I spin around in front of the mirror in awe, unable to take my eyes off my changed appearance. Just three months ago, I felt like a plain Jane, but today, I'm proud of my looks. My sun-kissed skin has a golden glow, and my body has lost all resemblance to the saggy frame I struggled with for so many years. It feels good to have finally stepped out of the shadows.
