NO GREATER LOVE

I scrub everything with all the energy i can muster from deep within me. My foot throbs from the long hours of work but i ignore it and go on with my chores. A little slack in my work meant little payment and an empty stomach tonight which i couldn't allow. My aching hands work automatically, long used to the system around here, grabbing one pan after another and giving it a thorough cleaning, but my mind wanders elsewhere. I can't help it as a smile creeps at the corners of my mouth, silently congratulating myself for my hard work. The long years of suffering are soon becoming past memories that once haunted my life. I think of the cash i have stashed away in the upper corners of the pigpen, the only place at our farm i was sure was safe from father's prying eyes and long fingers, since he couldn't stand the sight of pigs. I anticipate Crystal's smile in my mind when i go back home, our luggage packed as we prepare to runoff and start a new life in town with our hard earned savings. "Daydreaming again, aren't you?" a sudden voice startles me out of my thoughts. A few pans clatter to the ground with a deafening sound as i turn towards the voice. A large woman is standing in the doorway that adjoins to the front of the diner, her frame filling the entire space. She stares at me through small beady eyes which almost disappear in folds of fat as she scrunches up her face in disgust. I shake my head in protest as i resume my duties, increasing my speed. She let's out a heavy breath in a single huff and pushes her way forward into the kitchen, placing a pile of dirty dishes in front of me. "Such useless piles of nothing around here if you ask me, can't even finish their duties on time, daydreaming and wasting time," she adds, throwing me a look. I ignore her and bite back a retort, putting in more energy in my work, knowing well this is the last time am tolerating her attitude. It is way past my working time and darkness sets over the whole village, but Miss Sanders the head cook seems oblivious to this fact. She keeps piling more dirty dishes before me which i scrub with a heavy heart, unable to protest if i want my payment. My fingers are swollen and numb due to the coldness of the water by the time Miss Sanders is satisfied with my day's work and decides to let me off. She tosses me a small wad of cash, my weekly payment along with a small plate of cold food, probably leftovers from customers and barely enough to silence my rumbling stomach, but i grab it in haste, grateful for some meal. I hungrily gobble it up in a few mouthfuls, leaving Miss Sanders staring at me with shock etched across her features. I grab my cash tightly then leave the diner in a haste, unwilling to be held any moment longer with more chores. Outside, the air is freezing cold. I pull my thin scarf over my bare shoulders and slowly limp my way through the village towards our farm, bearing with the pain each step brought to my infected and throbbing foot. I push the door open only to stare into Crystal's tear stricken face. Her eyes widen up in fear when they fallen upon my inquisitive ones. Inside the house is my father, drinking as usual and a couple of men, all strangers in my eyes. My father barely acknowledges my presence when i come in and keeps his eyes glued on the bottle in front of him. Silence fills the room as the men's gazes turn my way. "Is this the person we have been waiting for all this while?" one of the men rumbles out as he looks me up and down. He grabs the glass set before him and gulps down all its contents in one mouthful. "Unfortunately, she is such a sore to look at. I do not think the boss will be thrilled with this." he adds, giving me a full glare before setting it on my dad. I look around in confusion and then drag my throbbing foot towards my father. "Father, what is the meaning of all this?" i demand from him but he keeps his eyes glued to his bottle, ignoring me completely. I pull his face towards mine, staring right into his eyes but his face is cold, expressionless and his eyes are distant. "Enough with this saga, its high time we left. The boss cannot be kept waiting anymore." I turn towards the voice, a million thoughts swirling in my mind. Where are we being taken? The man seems to read my facial expressions, as his next statement leaves me shaking to the core. "It seems you are unaware that you now belong to Mr. Felix, you and your sister are his property and all documents sealing this agreement are right here," he holds up the envelope in his hand," fully signed by your father. You are now slaves," he concludes. I stare at him in shock and stare at our father. I couldn't believe it had come to this. Father is sitting rigid on a chair, acting indifferent to what is happening. Crystal runs into me, holding me tight as her body breaks down in heavy sobs, a huge blow for her. I withhold back my tears, trying to be strong for the both of us. This would have been our night of freedom if we had run away to the city as we had earlier planned. I knew our father's hatred for me was deep, i just never believed he would drag my sister down too just to get rid of me. I thought of our money hidden away in the pigpen, right now useless. All our hard work poured down the drain. More men pour into the cramped room and lead us outside, treating us like criminals. My body follows their commands, but my mind is a turmoil. I keep my head straight as i limp towards the car, Crystal hanging on for dear life. I stare straight ahead as the cars drive off, taking us faraway from the only place we know as home.