Chapter 25 - A New Vocation
My friendship with Elena grew rapidly over the next few months. We spent our weekends at a local park, watching Mateo run through the grass while we sat on a bench, drinking coffee and talking about the flaws in the system.
"The biggest problem," Elena explained, throwing a piece of bread to a passing duck, "is that when these women finally find the courage to leave, they have nowhere to go. The shelters are full, and they have no legal representation."
I thought about the night I escaped. If it hadn't been for the hospital and Dr. Mendoza's immediate intervention, Diego’s money and influence would have buried me.
"What if we created a space?" I asked, turning to her. "A transition house. Somewhere that offers not just a bed, but legal counseling and financial planning."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "That takes massive funding, Valeria. And a mountain of legal paperwork."
"I am almost finished with my accounting degree," I pointed out, my mind racing with possibilities. "I can handle the financial structuring. You have the social work background and the network. We can apply for state grants. We can find private donors."
Elena looked at me, a wide, genuine smile breaking across her face. "You are entirely serious, aren't you?"
"I have never been more serious in my life," I said, watching Mateo laugh as he chased a butterfly. "I promised my son that he would grow up in a safe world. I think it’s time I started building it."
"What would we even call it?" Elena asked, pulling out a notepad from her bag.
May you like
I looked down at the faint white lines on my ribs, the scars that proved I had survived the crushing weight of the past.
"The White Line," I said firmly. "Because crossing it means you are finally free."
