“I’d love to,” Sophie said, almost giving Q a heart attack.
Sophie gave me another smile and I knew I had to trust her. Whatever she said would be the truth—I couldn’t control how people perceived it. There was no arguing with what I’d done.
Laying a hand on Q’s trembling forearm, I swallowed my fear. “Let her, Q. Let her speak.”
Q’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring with anger.
“Very good.” The prime minster handed Sophie a wireless microphone, guiding her to stand in front of us. “You may begin when you’re ready.”
The crowd hushed from bedlam to whispers. Their energy was infectious. My legs itched to run. I didn’t want to be here—not when people learned the truth.
Sophie looked behind, holding out her hand.
What? No. I can’t!
I squirmed backward, pressing against Q, seeking his protection like a wimp.
Q cursed under his breath. “I wish I could carry you away from this, Tess. But you can’t run—not now.” Pushing me forward, he murmured, “Stand beside her. Be strong.”
My heart confounded with terror, horror, and everything in-between. I inched close to Sophie, avoiding the eyes of the crowd.
All women. Women saved by Q.
The only woman I’d had contact with, I’d beaten until she screamed for mercy. I’m an imposter—a fraud!
I couldn’t breathe. The sun was too bright.
Please, fly me away from here.
Sophie linked her fingers with mine. Holding the mic to her lips, she said softly, “My name is Sophie White, and I owe my life to Mr. Mercer.”
The crowd went deathly silent. The quiet click of cameras and whir of video recorders were the only noise. I stood terrified and judged beside the woman I’d done such atrocious things to.
I couldn’t move.
“My story began with the death of my grandmother. We used to go to the regular flower show. I collect berry seeds—I make my own tea, you see…” Her voice trailed off before growing louder. “I was sitting on a bench, nursing my sadness, when a nice man sat beside me. He asked why I was crying. I told him about my grandmother—about how much I missed her. It felt so good to talk to someone, so when he asked me out for dinner, I didn’t hesitate.”
Her voice turned inward, filling with memories. “People think you’ll get taken from dark alleys or seedy nightclubs. The truth is…nowhere is safe.”
She swallowed. “They stole me three days before my grandmother’s funeral. I never got to say goodbye. I woke up cold and bruised in the dark. I was there for ages—or maybe it wasn’t that long at all—time plays tricks on you when you’re no longer a girl but property.”
Her hands tightened around the microphone.
My barcode tattoo with the sparrow inked into the cage, itched. I’d been property. I’d been merchandise for sale. I knew how it felt to be traded. And I also knew how it felt to be saved.
My heart lost its terrified rhythm. I stood taller. These women were my allies. These women were the reason why Q found me.
“I won’t go into my captivity—but I will say that when Mr. Mercer arrived, I didn’t want to live anymore. I was ready for death. I craved death. But he wouldn’t let me.”
My lungs stuck together. My own ordeal swamped me. Not only had Q fought to get me home, he’d sacrificed so much to bring me back to a life I no longer wanted. I’d been so busy wrapping myself up like Rapunzel in my tower—I’d forgotten how much I had to live for.
I hurt him so much.
He forced me to embrace pleasure as well as pain. He gave me a fuller life—a life I never deserved.
He loves me so much.
I turned to stare at my husband, suffering a flush of all-encompassing love. He smiled, the sun catching the tiny scars I’d marred him with.
Sophie continued, “Mr. Mercer opened his home to those of us rescued in Rio. He paid for our doctors, provided psychiatric help, and gave us time to heal away from our families. Families who we didn’t want to let down by being broken.
“By the time I returned home, I was strong enough to be supportive of my boyfriend, Ryan. We forget, as the ones taken, that the ones left behind have it bad too—if not worse. They can’t do anything to save us. If I’d returned to him before I was strong enough, our relationship would’ve failed—I wouldn’t have been able to love him the way he needed.
“I won’t lie and say it was easy. But life does go on.” Her voice changed from storyteller to fierce advocator. “The key I found in surviving LAT… Life After Them…is…allowing yourself to acknowledge you will never be the same. Don’t try and return to who you once were. It won’t work. Give yourself the right to say you’re stronger, better, wiser, harder. Don’t let them win.”
She twisted, looking over her shoulder at Q. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you on behalf of so many other women. I’ll never forget you and will treasure my life because of what you did to give it back.”
A squall of tears charged up my back, blurring my vision.
Thank you, Q. For being you.
Q rolled his neck. His eyes blazed with feeling but his posture was graceful as he moved to my side. Slinking his arm around me, he subtlety took possession, separating me from Sophie. He nodded, granting power and gracefulness in one movement. “De rien.” You’re welcome.
An orb of light filled me, growing brighter, bolder with every second.
This was the man who I loved and would always be proud of. I wanted to rain kisses over his face for all that he’d done.
The crowd grew loud, one voice rising with praise.
Q eclipsed my entire heart—giving me comfort in his dark embrace.
He waved. “Thank you, everyone. And thank you Sophie for having the strength to tell us of your ordeal.” His forehead furrowed as an idea came to mind. “If anyone else would like to share their stories, and continue to gain support from one another, I will personally visit you over the next week as we tour with Feathers of Hope. As for now, you are my guests. Please speak to Mr. Roux for details on your accommodation.”
Q smiled. “Now, you’ll have to excuse me and my wife. We have an important interview to attend, and we’re already late.”
The crowd roared with applause, humming with happy energy as Q handed the microphone to the prime minster.
The prime minister took it. “Thank you for your time and generosity. The city of France will gladly contribute to your tour.”
Q shook his head. “No, need. The financing is taken care of.” Looking at Frederick, he said, “Find out how many rooms you need and book out the finest hotel. Franco will assist you if needed.”
Frederick nodded, slapping Q on the shoulder. “Consider it done, my friend. Now, you really better go.”
Untangling myself from Q, I gathered Sophie in another hug. “Visit me any time.”
She grinned. “Maybe we can have coffee one day—just us.”
I didn’t know if the topic would be our past or future but I would spend time with her regardless. I needed to stop feeling guilty. I needed to move forward. “That would be nice.”
We parted, drifting toward our respective places. Q gathered me in his strong arms, welcoming me back into the world I loved while Sophie disappeared into the crowd. The women offered hugs and high fives, swallowing her up in their collective embrace.
My body was drained. I had nothing left. I felt carved like a pumpkin with no seeds. But it was a good carving—a cleansing leaving me eerily weightless and completely vulnerable to the new existence before me.
I’ve forgiven myself. I would never curse my fate again.