❣️❣️ FAITH ❣️❣️

I return once to the bar counter, look for two more glasses. I was about to go back when my arm was held back by Gil.

Gil: Baby! You don't respond to their stings.

I violently pulled my arm from his hand

Gil: I'm serious Faith, if you get fired again, you'll be on your own.

I logged him in and went to serve his two perverts. As soon as I put down the glasses of beer, one of the men started eyeing me unhealthily. I've always hated men of their kind, those who take women for a piece of bread. I ignored their provocative gestures and served them in the greatest of silences.

I still haven't placed a word. As Gil said earlier, I really have to keep this post here. He went out of his way before his friend agreed to hire me. It's been four Jobs that I lost this year. I'm completely dry, the owner of my lodge is looking for me with the wolf.

For all these reasons, I swallowed my pride and just took the tray to turn around and serve another table. One step forward, one of the perverts, the one on my left, slaps me on the buttocks. I stopped my steps breathing hard not to give in. Breathe Faith, breathe, it's the risks of the job, you'll get used to it. I really try to channel my rage by repeating this phrase over and over again. I joined Gil, mad with rage.

Gil: Do you really want this job?

FAITH It's not by choice but seriously if your clients don't stop breaking my balls, they really risk ending up in the hospital.

Gil: I didn't hire you to drive away my clientele but to increase it. Use your bb assets to fill this bar for me.

I look up at him wickedly and his smile widens. I like this guy, we've been friends for three years now and he never let me down even with my bullshit. I adore him, he represents the family that I no longer have.

Gil: Move your ass baby, let them see this tender woman hiding under this armor.

Faith: Vulgarity doesn't even suit you a little.

I took two bottles of whiskey and went to do my job. When the two perverts wave to me again, I ask Gil to go serve them because I'm not sure I can contain myself again. He is the manager so he manages his things. I replaced him at the checkout while waiting for him to collect his money. I sighed when I saw them leave. I resumed my service. There were more customers today, we finished around midnight.

Gil: If this week turns out this good, you'll get an advance, so you can stop scouting the bar and pay your rent.

I pouted and went to get her bag

Gil: I don't like knowing you're here all alone. It is a very dangerous neighborhood.

Faith: I'm a street woman. I'm used to all that.

Gil: Please come home with me.

FAITH And start another argument with your girlfriend? Nope

Gil: I will speak with Syria, she will understand

Faith: Go home Gil, I'll sleep here, don't worry about me.

Gil: Are you sure?

Faith: Yeah, break it.

He reaches out his arms and hugs me.

Gil: Take care of yourself bb.

He grabs his bag and leaves. Instead of sleeping, I preferred to put order in this mess. I first started with the complete cleaning of the room and the vomiting of certain customers. I then laid out the tables and then wiped them down. I collect the piles of garbage in a bag and go out to throw it in the trash. Very quickly, I noticed the two guys from earlier leaning against the opposite wall.

That doesn't even intimidate me a little. Prison trained me to be stronger than before, nothing scares me, not even death. If that should happen , no one will miss me , I have no children or husband or boyfriend . The only one this will make sad is Gil. I threw out the trash and took the opportunity to retrieve a broken beer bottle. I hid it behind my back and continued on my way. But it didn't take them long to get in my way.

Me: Please let me go

Me: I'm not in the mood tonight so please leave me alone

The two burst out laughing, I made my way to the side of the bar but one of them pulled my braids back to stick me against him. Their breath stinks of alcohol, sweat and tobacco. I am almost nauseous, a mad desire to vomit takes me. As soon as I saw the second one approaching me, I pushed him away from my feet and he fell. The other who held me, seeing his friend on the ground, pushed me violently and I landed directly on the ground, the bottle fell from my hands.

"How dare you take it out on my friend? You'll see what I'll do to you bitch

He threw himself on me and started groping me all over. I struggle with all my strength without begging them. When he put his lips to mine, I bit her until she bled. He quickly got up and started screaming. I took my legs around my neck to go and lock myself in the bar but I was quickly overpowered by his second.

I receive a violent blow of wood on the back by him. Shit, I didn't see it coming. He kicked chairs and tables several times. And broke several bottles of beer and whiskey. The other has joined the game. I can't let them trash the bar. Gil might get in trouble because of me. So I rushed at them and ripped the wood off him.

Without any restraint, I started beating them as they deserve, both of them. It was the passers-by who finally managed to take the wood from me. They lay motionless on the floor, my heart skips a huge beat.

Are they dead?

One of them was seriously damaged. A patrol car that was checking stopped and picked me up. The ambulance should arrive to evacuate the two imbeciles.

Although I explained that they wanted to rape me, the officers absolutely do not believe me. They threw me in the dungeon without taking the time to listen to me properly. The other prisoners were sleeping when I arrived, others were woken up by our noises. I cleared a small path to find myself a corner. I can't believe I'm locked up again. No matter how much I repressed my past, it still forced the passage. I see myself five years ago, handcuffs in hand.

FLASHBACK FIVE YEARS EARLIER

I signed the last paper that the secretary handed me and I got my passport back with a smile on my face. In a week, I will leave this country. I returned home singing. My father checked if all my papers were in order and indeed nothing is missing. I even packed my suitcase for ages.

Mom: Faith, please Ooooh, I even put my knees on the ground, don't go shame me over there because of your bad behavior, huh?

Me: Mom I got it

Mom: It's none of your business, huh, but rather keeping to your promises. Your mouth that you open kpa kpa kpa on the people there, sorry stop that. Fight too stop it. You're going to white country, don't go show your savagery there.

Me: Hey mom! I said I understood.

Mom: Okay

She took her bag to walk it. I went into the room to find Frida who was doing her home exercises. I jumped on her straight away.

Frida: Oh look what you did to my notebooks? You want me to be punished, right?

Me: I got my passport, I'm so excited.

Frida: And that's why you have to crumple my notebooks?

Me: Oh sorry, that wasn't my intention. I was just overexcited and wanted to share my joy with my sis.

Frida: Hmmm

Me: Can you imagine? If I pass the text, they will hire me and I could stay permanently in the United States. And when I am financially secure, I will also bring you here so that you can also find your way there.

Frida: (...........)

Me: I'm already imagining my life there, it seems that it's freezing cold in the city where I'm going. Soon even my accent will change. I will now speak in English. Hello, is that all you have on the menu? I want a hearty meal. A turn for everyone. It's on me.

I look back at Frida and she doesn't even seem to be listening to me.

Me: At least say a few things. It's still a project that we will all benefit from.

Frida: All you say? Make me laugh Faith. You think you'll do a month before we repatriate you. Parents are really stupid to think that you like that are going to get us out of poverty.

Me: Your reactions give reason to people who say you envy me

Frida: What? Me envy you? On what exactly? Your lousy grades that you receive in class? Or fights that you trigger all day long, or it's walls that you make in the middle of the night to hang out? Or is it the fact of always hanging out with guys that I'm going to envy? Your only chance for this trip is your friendship with Annick, it's a way for her parents to pay you for having spent your life playing doggie for their daughter.

Me: Continue with your harmful thoughts against me, study as much as you want sister, with this wickedness that you keep deep inside you, you will end up alone and embittered.

I came out slamming the door loudly. To no longer bear to see his face and hear the sound of his voice, I took a zem and went to the Hopul family. Annick has been a friend since we were kids, her family is great, rich, they moved to the United States and Annick managed to convince her family to bring me over there. As we recently had our baccalaureate, they found us a little internship there at their place. If I manage to make the Directors like me, they will hire me for real.

Annick: Did you get your passport back?

Me: An hour ago, all my papers are already up to date. Even got me suitcase

Annick: Dad just phoned, he won't come in a week but in three days.

Me: Three days? So in three days I'll know what it's like to fly?

She burst out laughing, yes but it's the truth. God did not give grace to everyone. And now that luck smiles on me, even answering people doesn't matter, all that I'm going to end with. Thank you Lord, thank you for this grace. I can't even stand still, my heart is filled with joy.

I didn't wait too long at her house, I went home to announce the news to the parents and they were very happy too. They stuffed my brain with advice. Very early in the morning, I cleaned up and made breakfast before going to do my last shopping. Frida pretended to have a migraine and stayed home instead of going to class. I came home late, everyone was terrified when I got home.

Me: What's going on?

Frida: Mom misplaced her bag, it contains a million that her boss gave her last night.

Me: How? She must have left that somewhere.

Frida: We searched the house from top to bottom but we found nothing

I also started digging, I moved the three coins and nothing at all. Mom ended up throwing a fit, the neighbors helped us re-evaluate her. We were all overwhelmed by the event, whether it was my father, Frida and me. How can a million disappear like this? And above all, how are we going to collect this amount of money when we can barely make ends meet. Dad works as a security guard and mom works as a cleaner for a white girl.

Mom: My GOD, I'm finished. How am I going to do? Hey, I refuse to go to jail. They will never believe me. What even possessed me to bring this money back to my house Ooooh. And God, I'm gonna tell them what tomorrow when they send the driver to pick up the money. I'm over, my life is over.

She keeps screaming and crying, I went to sit on the bed with her to try to calm her down. Nobody slept a wink all night, we all stayed up watching and looking for that damn bag. Mom cried so much that her eyes were swollen and red. We sat lamenting when Mom's bosses driver came to collect the million. Mom explained the situation to him and he called to keep them. An hour later, they came accompanied by the police.

Given our living condition, they immediately accused us, they put so much pressure on mom that she fainted a second time. After several minutes of reworking her, she finally regained consciousness. She was lying in bed but no sound came out of her mouth.

Me: The police and your bosses are still out. What are we going to do ?

Frida: What are we going to do? Or what are you going to do?

What me ?

She pulls out my suitcase and spills everything on Mom's bed.

Me: But what are you...

I freeze when I see Mom's bag in my stuff.

Frida: You're the one who took mom's bag and took the money to fill your bag for your trip. Admit it.

Mom: What?

Frida: She's the one who stole your money to go shopping with it, look at everything she bought with it...

Mom: Faith? You didn't dare?

Since then I still haven't put a word, I was like in a dream. I hadn't opened my eyes that I remember my mother's successive slap. She then threw me on the bed and started beating me violently.

Mom: I knew you were going to lead this family through the mud. How dare you do such a terrible thing to me?

Swipes and slaps rained down on me in a mess. I scream begging mom that I hadn't done anything but it was a waste of time, she was cursing me and hitting me in a mess. My whole body was covered in blues. My cries ended up alerting the neighbors who came to snatch me from my mother's hands.

Mom: You are a cursed child, the devil himself. You saw me suffer all night and you shut up. Witch like that, embittered and mean. I'm going to kill you Faith, it's me who carried you, it's also me who's going to kill you. Cursed child like that.

Me: I didn't take your money mom, I swear. I don't know how it ended up in my business.

Mom: Do you take me for your child? Is it you who gave birth to me or is it me? You didn't take my money and where did you find all that money to change your wardrobe?

Yes it's true, all the clothes that Frida knocked out of my bag were new. I was so shaken that I had not quickly made this remark. I've never seen his clothes in all my life, I took advantage of mom being held up by the neighbors and went back to my room to get my things but nothing. My clothes weren't there, only the new ones are there.

But how is this possible? I am when not somlanbulice for not remembering to have taken new clothes? Suddenly Frida's face appears in my brain. It was she who had brought my bag, yesterday she had spent the whole day at home. The bitch, she dared. I left the room at high speed, as soon as I arrived at the living room, I immediately jumped on it. I kicked her well before they came and pulled her under me.

Mom: As for me was not enough, it's on my child you arrived?

Me: I am your child too. And it was Frida who engineered all of this.

Mom: Hey, don't mix up my daughter's name in your nonsense, huh? Since she was born, have you seen anyone complaining about her in this house? Have you seen him smoked? To drink alcohol ? Curl up and hang out with the boys?

Me: Mom, please don't say that. I did not do anything

Mum: And who is your mother here? Me ? A child doesn't steal from his mother, a child doesn't watch his mother suffer all night without finding out the truth. You don't have a child but a demon.

Me: Why did you do this to me Frida? Did you want to harm me? But look at all the damage you've caused. If you had a grudge against me, couldn't you just settle it in a civilized way with me? Do you need to hatch such a petty plan?

Frida: Stop accusing me, I never stole anything, on the other hand, you didn't steal your first flight. You forgot the times you and your friends sneaked into the principal's office to steal homework papers. You have a very short memory.

Me: Shit! How did I not notice you turned into a poisonous snake?

Bam, I got a slap from mom, she grabbed my hair and pushed me hard to the ground. I hit my head against a piece of furniture and started bleeding profusely. . Mom didn't move me an inch. It was one of the neighbors who took me home and took care of me. I haven't swallowed anything, all I do is cry. I don't understand why Frida did such a thing to me. Am I still his sister? Twin more.

Neighbour: Hey my child, my mother is so upset with you.

Me: I didn't do anything, I didn't take his money. I am not a thief. It's true I do my stupid things but I'm not like that. It was Frida who laid this trap for me.

Neighbour: Eh Allah, Frida is still your sister, I can't even tell you apart. Why would she do that?

I just lowered my head. I don't want the people at court to know of my departure. Mom says it's for after putting their witchcraft on me. I was silent, she gave me medicine and changed my bandage. Since it was getting late, I went home. Mom was even more angry, she forbade me from going near her house.

Frida sat quietly studying. I leaned against the tree while waiting for my father. When he finally arrived and we told him the situation, he left for my mother. For them, I am a demon.

Dad: Too bad Faith. Rob your own family? What haven't you done to shame us in this class here? I knew it, I knew you were going to be talked about again. But it's over, I'm not going to tolerate nonsense any longer. You will answer for your actions at the police station there. I no longer run your business here at home.

I begged my parents in every language I know, deny I was the guilty idea. Dad tied me up and they called the police.

Me: Daddy please don't do this. The Hopul family will be there after tomorrow for my trip. Please don't lock me up. I swear I did nothing at all.

Mom: Where do you want to go? To go is worse there? Oh no you're going to spend a few days in prison there and it will help you think about your life.

Me: Mom doesn't do that to me. Frida about what is sacred in you, tell them the truth. Don't let me carry this heavy burden. I swear if you tell them the truth, I won't take it to heart. Please Frida, please. My future is at stake.

Frida: Stop it eh Faith, stop mixing me up with your nonsense there eh.

Me: Yes! There is the after judgment huh. God he is up there and he sees everything eh. Frida at least for all this love you have for God, tell them the truth. Don't let them do this to me.

She picked up her books and left the room. I have never cried so much and sung the praises of God in all my life. I remained tied up until the next day. The police arrived as they said. They brought me under the gaze of the whole neighborhood. Frida was there without a word. I no longer begged, what's the point. Nobody believes me anyway.

END OF FLASHBACK

I spent six months behind bars, my parents came once but I refused to go out to meet them. For me, they were dead. They sold the clothes and they topped up the rest of the money to pay the million. And it was after they cleared the debt that I was released. When I was released, I took a bus and came to neighboring countries.

From that day until today, I have not heard from any of my family members. And it's better that way, I still have the aftermath of that famous day. I don't think I will ever forget that. I stayed there paying for the past, asking myself questions about what my life would be like if Frida hadn't set this trap for me? Maybe I would have had money, a situation. A husband and children. In short, what's the point of thinking about something that will never happen?

Very early, we were woken up to count. One of the officers later came to tell me that I had a visitor. Gil! If he could get me out of here, that would be great. I refuse to relive the past. As soon as I cross the threshold of the door, my breathing stops, my blood pulses in my veins. My beats have never been so powerful.

Frida!

I did not move an inch, I remained frozen not understanding anything at all

Officer: Come forward and sit down.

He pulled me by the arm and forced me to sit in front of her.

Officer: It's crazy, how alike you are, it looks like two identical people.

Frida: She's my officer twin sister. Can you leave us alone?

She handed him a bunch of tickets and he left without saying anything more.

Frida: How are you Faith?

I reposition myself and stare at her without a word.

Frida: I understand that you are surprised and angry. But for now, let me sort this out.

Always radio silence

Frida: I asked a detective to find you, he told me where I should find you. He explained your situation to me and I took the first plane and here I am.

Me : ( .......)

Frida: The two men you injured, one is better but the second is in critical condition. His family wants to sue you. And if you don't have any assets on your porch, you risk going to jail. I've decided to take this case in hand so that you don't go there.

I still haven't placed a word. I don't even know what to say, I'm in custody for assault and battery. I refuse to go back for murder. I refuse to let her ruin my life again.

Frida: You're mad at me and I understand perfectly. Me at your table, I would have wanted you too. But I'm here, ready for anything, even crawling at your feet if you want. But I need my sister. I will erase all the suffering you have experienced in the last five years. But please forgive me.

Me: KEEP? KEEP ? GET ME OUT OF HERE. I REFUSE THIS VISIT

Frida: Faith, please listen to me.

I got up to go and bang the door violently.

Me: KEEP? KEEP ? OPEN THE DOOR, I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

Frida: I hurt you, I destroyed your life. But I was human and immature at the time. I was sad at the thought of your leaving, I wanted to keep you with me so I did this stupid thing. I had no idea it was going to get this big. Please forgive me . Let me fix my mistakes by first paying your bail. They said it's 500 miles.

Me: OPEN THIS DOOR NOW.

Frida: I...

I completely lose control as soon as she puts her hand on my shoulder. I grabbed it and then bypassed this one. She falls to her knees, writhing in pain. That I look at his complaints and pleas? I put more pressure and his cries got louder. She really screamed with all her might. If before she didn't have the strength to beat me today it would be worse than the street forged me to be more efficient.

Me: Listen to me you filthy hypocrite, if I don't break your neck here and now it's because I refuse to end up in prison again because of you. So if I have to see your witch face again, I would not hesitate to kill you, to dig a hole myself and to bury you very deeply so that no one knows that you are dead.

I am subdued by the officer's whip, who then leads me back to my cell. I was on fire, mad with rage and anger. I just want to smash everything around me. The pain I feel is beyond me, I bend my knees to the ground and burst into tears. I couldn't take it anymore, it had to come out.

I cried for I don't know exactly how many hours. I'm empty inside. I look up at the officer who had passed the key through the velvet.

I looked at him without a word.

I got up, got my stuff, and walked out.

Gil: Finally you're back.

He held me tight for a while

Me: The bar

Gil: We don't care about the bar, the main thing is that you went out baby. I was so scared, if you only knew.

Me: Thank you, but where did you get all that money?

Gil: But are you crazy? Do I look like I keep five hundred miles somewhere?

Me: So? Where does it come from

Gil: I got a wire transfer, after a woman called me saying she was your sister, she asked me to get you out of jail.

I flex my fists more furious than ever. She thinks to redeem herself with money? A life she stole from me by going with the Hopul in my place?

Gil: But wait! I thought you were an orphan

Me: I am Gil. Let's go there.

I beat him, I was so angry that I crossed without looking at the road. Fortunately the driver braked in time to avoid hitting me.

Me: Sorry, excuse me.

Gil: Faith, couldn't you be careful crossing? Look how you almost got knocked down. Excuse us sir, she's not in her right mind at the moment, let's go, Bb.

“Release my wife right away, you idiot. And you can explain to me what you are doing here and why this imbecile calls you bb?