Page 70 of Defy

A wave of guilt hit me.

This wasn’t how I wanted things with Damon. If he only knew how much I wanted to tell him all of it. Give him the details of what I was doing that night.

But the promises I’d made were things I couldn’t break, no matter how much they would help me.

By the time we reached a series of warehouses in an industrial area, I’d resigned myself to the fact that I’d have to continue to keep this from Damon.

I’d bear his wrath and whatever punishment he sent my way, and if it ultimately meant we separated, it was the price I’d pay.

The car pulled into a port, and I stepped out to find an older woman with golden brown skin and dark, soulful eyes waiting for me. She wore a long-sleeved black dress with a green apron covering the front.

Worry etched her face, and she wrung her hands as if she expected me to back out of coming.

Suzette Owusu wasn’t a woman to ever give away any of her emotions, and seeing her in this state told me she’d kept an eye on all that had transpired in my life over the last few weeks.

“Suzette, I’m so happy to see you.” I walked over to her and hugged her.

She wrapped her arms around me and then inspected my face. “Sophia, we are all so worried about you. None of us would have thought less of you if you decided to stay away.”

I shook my head. “I don’t break promises. The work you do is important.”

“Because you protect us, the police arrested you.”

“No, I don’t ever want you to believe that. It has to do with things in no way linked to you.”

“That isn’t true. You were with us that night. If it means pulling the security tapes. I’ll give them to you.”

“Absolutely not. I will not put the safety of anyone here on the line. You’ve spent your whole life building this sanctuary. It has to remain that way.”

Suzette used her retirement savings to create a safe haven for women and children seeking to escape abuse. She’d made a network through trusted people in the community, and they brought them to her.

I’d learned of her organization four years ago while helping at a women’s outreach center during Christmas instead of spending it with Mom and Dad as they expected. One of the volunteers and I hit it off and then I mentioned wanting to use my sewing skills for a purpose greater than the fashion industry. The lady had smiled and the next thing I knew, I was having a coffee meeting with Suzette.

It took another month before Suzette trusted me enough to reveal any true details of her organization.

I could understand her caution, considering the volatility of the lives of the people she protected.

“In good conscience, I cannot let you go to jail for a murder you didn’t commit.” Suzette tucked a stray gray hair behind her ear with a shaky hand. “I won’t lie and say it doesn’t scare me to do it, but I will go public to prove your innocence if necessary.”

“Please, no. Your work means life and death that is a million times more important than my freedom.” I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and then tucked my arm into hers. “Let’s go inside so I can get started.”

“You’re such a good girl, Sophia. Why do you let the world believe otherwise.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I don’t want the reputation I have. It’s that I stopped trying to change people’s opinions about me. They’re going to believe what they want to believe.”

We entered a hallway leading to a large open communal space. Inside the room sat women and children clustered around multiple sets of tables and chairs, many mothers with arms wrapped around their sons and daughters, and others were groups of ladies just looking for escape.

Those who understood no harm would come to them under the walls of this building seemed relaxed and talked freely. Will others, who I assumed had just arrived, watched everyone with suspicion and uncertainty?

A fierce protectiveness always overwhelmed me whenever I came here.

The number of stories I’d listened to from so many who found safety under this roof showed me how truly fortunate I’d been my entire life.

Logically, I understood it didn’t negate my trauma or suffering. However, I had means the people here couldn’t fathom, which made all the difference in the world.

“Do you want me to go to my usual spot or do something else tonight?”

“No sewing machines tonight. We have a new volunteer. You can show her how to do basic stitching and taking measurements.” Suzette shook her head.

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