Trafficking.
Things never thought could exists …if someone else, by word of mouth, had told on things like this, the truth, my truth, hmm …it’s a lie. That would come to my mind as remaining in silence and listening to someone telling lies but, was I wrong? See by yourself:
A story, heard directly from a coworker girl who after some time confessed to me part of her life, here we go:
I was working in a company named (omitted), applied for a job on my summer school time, had three months. Am in front of a die cutting machine cutting aprons, kitchen gloves and other things made of thick-spongy like materials. When on the job, after explained to me how to manage the big heavy machine and given all precaution and care on myself to avoid and accident, I started. There were four (4) other men working together just producing supplies to be send, on the spot, to ladies working with the aprons by sawing them into the items to be packed and shipped out to stores waiting for them.
…as time passed, my production increased in quantity and qualities, all 4 other men were fired, I mean, fired, cuz the manner I created to handle the big heavy machine, yet was totally different than the first instructions given, ended up in producing much more by me alone, with no need of the other four.
…but I demanded that I needed someone to help on the production, someone that would not talk during work, cuz distraction could create an accident. Someone that could follow my instructions, when needed and as needed in order to keep production.
So, the manager sent a young, strong girl, it happened aside the qualities asked to be, was beautiful, of a sculptor's designed body.
…feeling some relief on my work, and things going safe and fast, I notice that the girl stopped going to sit down on a lonely table far from most other workers and sat down, on her lunch time on the same table next to the heavy machine (there were no working material on it, cuz I keep it clean all the time), I was enjoying my home made lunch and beverage drinks. One day, I smiled at her and asked: why you do not talk at all?
She looked at me, paused a short while and said: cuz I trust no one.
I then keep eating and after few seconds responded: but aren’t I one?
…of course, you are.
No more talking during the rest of the day.
Few days after.
How do you do? She asked.
…oh! Fine! Responded …and you?
…am okayed here.
…had you worked at some other place before?
No, it is my first job.
May ask a question if you allow me? Asked I.
…why not, be my guest. She replied.
…am curious, why do you not speak with other people on your free lunch time? See? Everyone has special friends to relax, eat and talk.
Should you...(she interrupted me and responded) ...no, sir, with the experience I went through, better I am by not associating with people at work.
…and why you, and I beg your pardon, stopped having lunch on that table (as looking was I to the table), and set this one as your corner to have lunch?
…cuz of you.
…me?
…yes, sir.
…why?
You do not talk, the same as I do, with other people. You look quiet and I noticed, you respect each and everybody here. Many people, and talking about men, if a woman sit next to them, and starts a chatting, the first thing you people do is, aside of asking for the girl’s name, is her phone number and if she could be called to invite her to go places. Asking her name is natural but, her phone? Why?
I added …well, that is the way people, mostly men, start a friendship with a girl they like. What is wrong of that?
…people need friends, which is normal (she added too). But sometimes, the so-called friends, hurt the other on their benefit, destroying the girl's future. It is a risk present to most girls; the best precaution is to keep off most of them.
Then I said: you are full wrong, my respect, but it is not that way. A girl knows how to protect herself, in most cases.
…sorry but it is time to start our job (she said as looking at her wristwatch).
-Noticed she said “our” job; as putting in our chatting some trust.
After few more weeks.
Good morning, said I.
Good morning, she answered with a simple timid and trusted smile.
…today there will be some food, free food given by the boss to all of us, said to her ...and 2 hours lunch paid to each of us cuz the company did a good production in the last 2 months. He wants to thank us all.
…thanks, I read the note when leaving out, yesterday.
Do you read English? Asked her.
Some, she answered.
…well, what is your plan on those hours, miss?
…talk, eat and just that sir.
The company clock, sounded a loudspeaker like the bells of a church, we never heard that type of sound, and announced: surprise! It is 10 O’clock… stop working, set yourselves on the table placed in the other large storage room specially fixed for 2-hour celebration and serve yourselves, food for everyone. Enjoy!
…am scared sir, would you stay with me? Please?
With a smile in my face, you are the boss, will do as you please Mss.
…during those two hours, we spoke of why life is the way it is, and why some people go thru horrible experiences. That was when she told me her incredible story, unbelievable but, true. How we started talking on her experience? I do not know but this was told by her to me:
I travelled from the Dominican Republic as a resident to live here in the United States with my relatives, mother and father and my sisters and brothers. Finished high school there but need to learn the English language so, went to evening "English as a Second Language" learning location, a high school at daytime. I just disappeared, the police, my family and other relatives were looking for me during eight months.
Why did you not call your family to tell them where you were?
Could not call them cuz I was numbed, like sleeping all the time.
Where, then were you? Asked her.
She looked downn and said …do not know; just remember, like a dream, was locked in a room, alone, sometimes food was given to me but most of the time, few times a day, men came to me, put me on a bed and did sex to me.
Some of them, when move off me, pissed on my body, my chest, and my face.
Oh My God! I acclaimed. Could you not defend yourself?
How? She mutted.
Asking some of the same men to help you! I exclaimed.
No sir, as of now, it is felt as if it was a dream, how could I scream in a dream? Things happens and there is no control of yourself, felt floating on air or falling on an abism with no end until something put me down, like on a bed; after a while, floating back and falling into an abism! Again and again! It is horrible! It was scare and could not cry! Felt like a hand was chocking me and could not have any air! Then that hand move off my throat, I took some air and it started choking me again!
…how you know it was like a dream?
…cuz some one found me naked on the streets, lost, trembling, hungry and crying. They called the police who helped me, covered my body, and found out I was a missing girl from eight months ago.
…then? ...looking at her face as her eyes got cloudy with tears on it.
She continued: after been taken to a hospital, my family went to visit me there, I was interviewed by a psychiatrist that gave me a lot of medication to take and explained to me that life is beautiful that it was imperative to continue it and some way or the other help people that could go thru similar situations. I did not take any medicine cuz on the first one, I felt drunk, asleep the same way as in my eight months's dreams. I do not want to feel the same thing was happening again.
…and how you feel now?
Back home in the last three months; feel good, been myself. The psychologist was right, I must continue my life. But taking better care to protect myself from strangers.
…miss, …?
My name is Aida.
My name is Egnio, miss Aida.
Thanks to meet you Egnio.
It is an honor to meet such a strong girl like you, Miss Aida.
Did you tell your family the whole story?
…not all of it, I feel embarrassed.
…personally, you should trust your protectors, this is, you parents.
I do, but they are a very religious people, will make them suffer for the rest of their lives; better work hard, finish learning English and continue my life.
May I, miss Aida, ask: why did you trust on me to tell me your story?
…cuz in chats before, you told me you are a medical student that will return to D.R. to continue your studies, and this conversation would help you in your studies. Aside that, we will never see each other. And “ojos que no ven, cuerpo que no siente” (English Translation, no literal: eyes that cannot see, body that can not feel what the eyes can not see).
See, you trusted me cuz am leaving in a couple of weeks.
Correct you are sir, had to tell some one my sorrow, cuz keeping that to myself, is a burden. Might be, with my story, you, a future doctor, could help your future patients, better, than a doctor that had never heard this experience, just reading it in textbooks. Experience is not tough in books.
Which were you grades in high school mis Aida?
Mostly 90 and 100.
Why?
Cuz you are a thinker, kind of philosopher.
???
…after I am gone, you will understand what I meant.
End of the story.
https://youtu.be/dtT0V7yNgow
https://youtu.be/Tn_KcWR06l8
