of her mouth
methodically with her napkin. “How lucky can you get?”
“I know, and I’m sorry. If only we were
all going home. But I didn’t have a say,” I replied, as I got the impression I
wasn’t welcome at my usual table.
“I know you didn’t, but you can at least
do this for me.” She pushed one of her textbooks in my direction, pointing to a
piece of paper sticking from the top.
“Of course.” I nodded, taking the book
in my possession.
“How did you guys find out?” Kate smiled,
and then began eating, like it was no big deal.
“We received a message from Nidus
Communications, of course.” Aliah gave Jessica a slight nudge.
“Oh, really? So what else do you know?”
I asked in a hushed voice.
“Gaby said that you’re going to put some
action behind your words from last night.” Destiny gave a slight shake of her
head while letting out a low huff. “Remember what I said.”
“I know. But we’re going to do what we
can.” I elbowed Kate. “Isn’t that right?”
Kate cast a timid smile. “Yeah.” I felt
for her, and I hated pushing Kate to do something she didn’t want to do, but I
really needed her help.
Jessica sucked in a breath. “Well, we
decided that we’re behind you one-hundred percent.”
“Thanks, Jessica. That means a lot,
coming from you.” Immediately the tension settled, and I relaxed, feeling
comfortable once again at my familiar spot.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“Don’t mention it.”
“I hope something good comes from this.”
Aliah passed Kate a note and a ring in the shape of a heart.
Kate took the heart-shaped ring, decorated
with red, white, and blue beads that formed the US Flag, and placed it on her
finger. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.” Then she slid the note into her bra. “I’ll
guard it with my life.”
“You better, because it has some really
special instructions,” Aliah said, before slurping on her chocolate milk.
“I’m sorry that I have nothing to offer.
Other than this.” Destiny placed a 3D origami star in the center of the table.
Black cursive letters covered the yellow parchment.
I picked it up by the leather string
hanging from the top. “What does it say?”
“Wow, did you fold that, Destiny?” Kate
leaned over, admiring the dangling star.
“Yes, I did.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you. May it serve as a reminder.
A reminder for what our forefathers fought.”
I gave her a big smile. “Freedom.”
“You got it, sister. Freedom.”
“The Declaration of Independence,” Kate
said, in a hushed voice. How appropriate. Everything was crystal clear. I had a
duty to those girls, and I would do whatever I could to help them get out of
that place.
“Here, Kate, you take it.” I placed the
star of freedom in front of her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. My dad has one framed in the
house. I can quote most of it.”
“Then you should keep it.” She said with
a smile.
“Okay.” I wrapped the string around my
finger and let it spin.
Within a few minutes, the news spread.
All eyes were on Kate and me. It didn’t take long for the entire dining room of
girls to gather around us. With hormones levels high, it became a ‘Kum Ba
Yah’ moment, as tears dripped from our lashes. They embraced us while
offering words of encouragement. They covered us in beaded jewelry, from
bracelets to necklaces, to pins and even rings. The beads sparkled in red,
white, and blue—symbolizing the colors of our great nation. Everyone handed us
notes, folded up in different shapes and sizes. We shoved them into our
pockets, shoes, and anywhere else we could hide them.
I couldn’t believe the overwhelming
support we received. It was surreal. I never expected those girls to back us
up, not to mention, for them to see us as their heroes. My heart ached as the
desperation in their faces all but pled for us to help them. They wanted out of
Nidus as much as we did.
We were their only
methodically with her napkin. “How lucky can you get?”
“I know, and I’m sorry. If only we were
all going home. But I didn’t have a say,” I replied, as I got the impression I
wasn’t welcome at my usual table.
“I know you didn’t, but you can at least
do this for me.” She pushed one of her textbooks in my direction, pointing to a
piece of paper sticking from the top.
“Of course.” I nodded, taking the book
in my possession.
“How did you guys find out?” Kate smiled,
and then began eating, like it was no big deal.
“We received a message from Nidus
Communications, of course.” Aliah gave Jessica a slight nudge.
“Oh, really? So what else do you know?”
I asked in a hushed voice.
“Gaby said that you’re going to put some
action behind your words from last night.” Destiny gave a slight shake of her
head while letting out a low huff. “Remember what I said.”
“I know. But we’re going to do what we
can.” I elbowed Kate. “Isn’t that right?”
Kate cast a timid smile. “Yeah.” I felt
for her, and I hated pushing Kate to do something she didn’t want to do, but I
really needed her help.
Jessica sucked in a breath. “Well, we
decided that we’re behind you one-hundred percent.”
“Thanks, Jessica. That means a lot,
coming from you.” Immediately the tension settled, and I relaxed, feeling
comfortable once again at my familiar spot.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“Don’t mention it.”
“I hope something good comes from this.”
Aliah passed Kate a note and a ring in the shape of a heart.
Kate took the heart-shaped ring, decorated
with red, white, and blue beads that formed the US Flag, and placed it on her
finger. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.” Then she slid the note into her bra. “I’ll
guard it with my life.”
“You better, because it has some really
special instructions,” Aliah said, before slurping on her chocolate milk.
“I’m sorry that I have nothing to offer.
Other than this.” Destiny placed a 3D origami star in the center of the table.
Black cursive letters covered the yellow parchment.
I picked it up by the leather string
hanging from the top. “What does it say?”
“Wow, did you fold that, Destiny?” Kate
leaned over, admiring the dangling star.
“Yes, I did.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you. May it serve as a reminder.
A reminder for what our forefathers fought.”
I gave her a big smile. “Freedom.”
“You got it, sister. Freedom.”
“The Declaration of Independence,” Kate
said, in a hushed voice. How appropriate. Everything was crystal clear. I had a
duty to those girls, and I would do whatever I could to help them get out of
that place.
“Here, Kate, you take it.” I placed the
star of freedom in front of her.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. My dad has one framed in the
house. I can quote most of it.”
“Then you should keep it.” She said with
a smile.
“Okay.” I wrapped the string around my
finger and let it spin.
Within a few minutes, the news spread.
All eyes were on Kate and me. It didn’t take long for the entire dining room of
girls to gather around us. With hormones levels high, it became a ‘Kum Ba
Yah’ moment, as tears dripped from our lashes. They embraced us while
offering words of encouragement. They covered us in beaded jewelry, from
bracelets to necklaces, to pins and even rings. The beads sparkled in red,
white, and blue—symbolizing the colors of our great nation. Everyone handed us
notes, folded up in different shapes and sizes. We shoved them into our
pockets, shoes, and anywhere else we could hide them.
I couldn’t believe the overwhelming
support we received. It was surreal. I never expected those girls to back us
up, not to mention, for them to see us as their heroes. My heart ached as the
desperation in their faces all but pled for us to help them. They wanted out of
Nidus as much as we did.
We were their only
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