She stopped outside a coffee shop. “Oh my god, can we go here?”
“Sure.”
She moved inside and looked around, like she’d been there before. “I used to come here all the time…” The barista made a coffee at the machine, and the person in line ordered a couple of muffins before they walked out. “Shit.” Her eyes fell.
“What?”
“I…I don’t have any money.”
I studied her face, seeing the genuine surprise in her features, like she didn’t expect me to take care of her. She would never escape at this point, so she would never have money again, but she still didn’t expect anything from me. “I can buy you anything you want, whenever you want.”
She hesitated, as if she didn’t want to accept my money. She’d taken care of herself for a long time, took care of her sister even when she should have taken care of herself, so once she was out in the real world, she immediately reverted to that identity. “I have money at my apartment. It should still be there… I haven’t been gone that long.”
“We’ll go by and collect your things some other time. For now, order.”
There was another look of sadness in her eyes at my words when she realized she would lose that apartment for good. But she accepted it quickly then moved to the barista. “Can I get a white mocha, please? Ooh…and one of the blueberry muffins.”
The woman looked at me next and spoke in English. “And for you?”
I spoke in French. “Just a black coffee.” She took my money and gave me the change.
When I looked at Raven, she’d already taken a big bite of her muffin with a look on her face that implied it was the best thing she’d ever eaten. “Oh wow…” Her sorrow was quickly erased by the sugar rush. She ate the entire thing before her coffee was even ready.
We left minutes later and walked down the sidewalk and headed to the tower.
When we reached a wine bar, she stopped. “This is where we were…when the guys took us.” She stopped at the window and looked inside then turned to an invisible car that was parked in her mind. “They were in this ugly brown car. I tried to warn my sister…but she was so stubborn.”
“No. She was stupid.” I started to walk again.
She joined me at the same pace.
“After everything you did for her, you’d think she’d listen.”
“She’s just… I don’t know. Some guys were giving her attention, and it just messed with her head.”
“You still make excuses for her when you know the truth.”
She looked down at her coffee, where she’d left a lipstick mark. “I’ll always make excuses for her.”
I drank my coffee then looked ahead. “You said you intended to live here permanently?”
“Yeah, when I graduated.”
“And do what?”
“I was hoping to be a professor.”
“Why not go back to America?”
She shrugged. “Because I love it here. I came here to have my own identity apart from Melanie. But honestly, it’s such a beautiful place. When I got here, I knew I would never leave. They could throw me out, and I would just keep coming back…”
“Did you have friends?”
“I did…”
“What did they say when you were back?”
“They were happy I was home. They believed my story. They were already in their next semester and I wasn’t, but we still spent a lot of time together. When I disappeared again, I’m sure they went to the police and told them everything I had said. But that won’t go anywhere.”
No, it wouldn’t. “How did your mother pass away?”
“An accident. She worked two jobs, so she was tired a lot. She fell asleep at the wheel…”
It was such a sad story that I didn’t know what to say.
“Her name was Rose.”
I turned to look at her, understanding the meaning.
“The horse reminded me of her…that’s why I named her that. I know it sounds stupid, but I almost feel like my mother’s spirit was in her, carrying me to safety, taking care of me one last time.”
I didn’t believe in shit like that, but I didn’t say it. “It’s not stupid.”
“It’s not?” she asked quietly.
“Not if it makes you feel better.”
She stared at the tower for a long time, her coffee cup in the garbage because she’d finished it.
I stood beside her, letting her enjoy the sight for as long as she wanted. I got tired of treating her like a prisoner and wanted her to feel good again, to get some fresh air before we had to return to the camp.
“I’m getting hungry. We should head back.” She turned her back to the structure and walked away.
I walked beside her. “You want to eat somewhere?”
She halted and looked at me in surprise. “Seriously?”
“Why not?”
“Because…do you eat out for lunch?”
“Why would I have an apartment here if I didn’t?”