Caught

Paula
Living in the village was very difficult for me. You had to agree to mingle with people with lots of filth. My grandmother who was there all the time, wanting to touch me with her hands that she never washes. I had to go to great lengths not to come out of my gongs and tell them how repulsive they are to me. Let's not talk about it any more with regard to the food, which is not only tasteless, but also disgusting. I had only one desire, to leave here and never set foot there again. How do they manage to live in such a place, with bad food, without drinking water and, moreover, without electricity? To say that this government of incompetents knows nothing else to do but fatten its pockets and send their children to Europe and America, while their population is dying of hunger and thirst. This is another cause that pushes me to live as I want, because in this country of jungle, you have to trample to be able to survive. My stay in the village was longer than expected. Nevertheless, I managed to reach my handyman two weeks ago, so that he could put me in touch with the one who will help me cross the border with my mother. However, things did not go as I hoped. He was very late, and two whole weeks passed without him giving me any news. I wait anxiously for him to tell me when we have to leave, hoping that this delay will not harm me. In the evening, I go out and go to the place where I usually make phone calls. I manage to reach my man and he gives me an appointment for tomorrow. He told me that very soon we will be able to leave the country. I come back with a lot of hope. I tell my mother who is also delighted with the news.
"That's really good news!" She exclaims happily.
"Yes, fingers crossed that everything is going well. From tomorrow, we will have confirmation regarding the date of our departure." I explained to her enthusiastically. "He told me that we shouldn't worry. Since we are in the East, the move will be quick and easy." I concluded.
The next day at the time indicated, I go to the meeting place and I meet the man who will take us across. He reassured me that everything would be fine, that I didn't have to worry. In two days, we are going to cross the border at night and we must be ready, delay not being permitted. I went back to inform my mother so that she gets ready accordingly. We are packing our bags for the trip. I have a large suitcase inside which I put my clothes, but also and above all, all my money. It's a big jackpot, so I guard it jealously. I look forward to the two days passing. The night of the day of our departure therefore, my mother and I hit the road. We left on the sly, without informing anyone in the village, not even my grandmother. It's better this way, so as not to leave a trace behind us. Our man was waiting for us with the car at a place he had told me beforehand. There are also about twenty people with him. We take the road to the border without delay. After two hours driving, we finally arrive at the border. We did not take the national road, but rather a track between the trees, where we will not have to meet the police stationed at the border. Arrived at a certain level, we get out of the car and we continue on foot, our suitcases on our heads. This is so, in order to make less noise, so as not to alarm the border guards. It is very painful, because our luggage is heavy. Mum's suitcase is carried by a man who is also traveling with us, since he had no luggage. We walk in silence for a long time. We were already at the other end of the border, a few steps away from joining the neighboring country, when a light, out of nowhere, shined on us. We're surrounded, it looks like we've been ambushed. Are the armed forces guarding the border? Are they bandits? We didn't know. But one thing is on my mind at this precise moment, to secure my money that I carry in the suitcase.