Chapter 29 - Expanding the Mission
Two months after Mateo's breakthrough, 'The White Line' received a massive piece of mail. Elena and I sat in our small, rented office space above a bakery, staring at the official letterhead of one of the largest philanthropic foundations in Mexico.
"Open it, Valeria. I am going to have a heart attack," Elena said, pacing the small room, nervously chewing on a pen.
I slid my finger under the envelope flap, my hands shaking slightly. I unfolded the heavy paper and read the first paragraph.
"Dear Ms. Villalobos and Ms. Ramirez," I read aloud, my voice echoing in the quiet room. "We are deeply moved by the mission of The White Line. Your comprehensive approach to legal, financial, and psychological support for victims of domestic abuse is groundbreaking."
I stopped, my eyes scanning down to the final bolded number at the bottom of the page. I gasped, dropping the paper onto the desk.
"What? What does it say?" Elena shrieked, rushing over.
She looked at the number. "One million pesos? They approved the full grant! Valeria, they gave us the full grant!"
We grabbed each other, jumping up and down in the tiny office, screaming with joy.
"We can buy the property," I said, tears of relief streaming down my face. "We can buy the old boarding house on Juarez Street. We can hire a full-time lawyer. We can actually open the shelter."
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"We are going to change lives, Valeria," Elena said, hugging me tightly.
I looked out the small office window at the bustling street below. I thought about the terrified woman I used to be, hiding her bruises under long sleeves, suffocating in a black girdle. She felt like a stranger now. The woman standing in this office was an accountant, a director, a mother, and a savior.
