When the social worker, Amanda, and a police officer arrive, we are all taken to the police station. Mom and Devi have been called and are on their way. Reema asks for me to stay with her while she is questioned, but Amanda explains that isn’t allowed. She gently convinces Reema that she will be there to support her, and the interpreter speaks to Reema and seems to reassure her. She goes off with them while I wait with Nav in another room. The officer asks us questions, and we tell her everything.
“To be tricked and brought to this country as a slave,” I say to the officer. “I still can’t believe it could happen—on my street, where I live.”
“What will happen to her?” Nav asks.
“If she wants to go home, we will arrange that. But if she wants to stay here, we will help her to apply for asylum. In the meantime, social services will try to find a foster family to look after her.”
“Maybe she could stay with us?” I suggest. “I can ask my parents.”
“That’s sweet of you, but I think she’ll need to go somewhere far from here, in a protected placement. Otherwise associates of the people who took her might threaten her and make her go back with them. And people have to go through all kinds of checks and training to become foster parents.”
“Can we stay in touch—will you let us know what happens to her?” I ask.
“I can’t make promises about that, but I will try,” she says. “If you want to write to Reema, I’ll make sure your letters are passed on.”
We are left to wait for what feels like hours, but probably isn’t. Nav plays on his phone.
At last, the officer brings Reema to say goodbye.
Reema still looks frightened. She doesn’t speak. “I hope you’ll be okay,” I tell her.
She nods.
“Don’t worry—you’re safe now,” Amanda tells her. Standing there, Reema looks thinner than ever, even more like the ghost I once thought her to be.
“I’ll write to you,” I say.
She doesn’t seem able to speak. She says goodbye only with her eyes and then she follows the social worker out through the doors.
* * *
Devi brought Mom to the police station, and she drives us all back home as Nav and I tell the whole story over again. I am suddenly overcome by weakness and exhaustion. “I need to lie down,” I tell Mom, as the car pulls up outside our house.
“I’ll leave you to rest,” says Nav, and he disappears quickly inside Mrs. G.’s house. He seems so eager to leave that I feel a surge of disappointment. I thought we’d become friends again, but maybe I was wrong. The front door closes, and I wish I’d said something—said I was sorry for the way I treated him. But the moment has passed.
I let Mom hold my arm as I struggle up the stairs and sink down on to my bed. It’s been an extraordinary day, though I know that something good has happened because of it and that Reema is now safe. But I can’t help feeling sad about Nav.
* * *
The next day I lie in bed, reading about child trafficking. The stories are appalling. Children brought to this country and sold for sex or enslaved for domestic work. I read accounts about different children who’ve been trafficked. There’s even someone like Reema—a girl trafficked for domestic service and just locked in the house all the time.
Ellie comes over. We’ve been texting, of course, but she is bursting with questions. I show her the stuff online about trafficking.
“That’s horrifying,” she tells me. “I’d never have imagined something like that. You were so right to be suspicious! And you’re talking to Nav again?”
I nod. “He saved my life.”
“I’m glad you’ve made up,” she says.
“I’m not sure we’ve actually made up,” I admit. “I need to apologize properly. I was awful to him after the concert. I don’t think he’s forgiven me. And I really like him, Ellie.”
She looks at me. “You mean—you like like him?”
I nod, suddenly realizing it’s true. I can feel my cheeks going hot.
“He’s a good guy,” she says. “You’ll have to speak to him.”
I nod again.
Ellie glances at her watch. “I’ve got to go,” she tells me.
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” I ask.
It’s Ellie’s turn to blush.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” I ask eagerly. “Here I am telling you about Nav! What aren’t you telling me, Els?”
“I have got a date, as it happens,” Ellie says, but there’s something weird about the way she’s saying it.
“Who with? Come on, spill!”
But Ellie is quiet, not meeting my eyes, picking anxiously at her cuticles.
“There’s something I need to tell you, and it’s difficult,” she says.
I can’t think what she’s getting at. I joke, “It’s not Josh, is it?”
It’s meant to be a joke, but she doesn’t smile. “Oh, God, it’s not, is it?” I say. I don’t want Josh anymore, but this feels a little weird.
“It’s not Josh,” Ellie says. “It’s Lia.”
“What? You mean…”
“Yes,” says Ellie. “She’s my girlfriend.”
This is a total shock. “But…I had no idea! You never said… So are you…” I hesitate—I’m not sure what the right word to say is. Should I say gay or lesbian or bisexual? Ellie speaks before I can decide.
“I don’t know what I am, exactly, Kas. We just know we have feelings for each other—something more than friendship. I’ve never felt like this about any boy. But I’m scared. I don’t want to be defined as anything. I just want to be myself.”
She’s crying now, and I feel awful.
“I’m sorry,” I say softly. “I didn’t know. I wish you could have talked to me. You’ve been so supportive to me, and all the time you had this going on in your head. And I haven’t even asked you if you’re okay, or what’s going on with you!”
“I didn’t want to bother you with it on top of everything else,” she says, squeezing my hand. “I’m glad I’ve told you now, though.”
“So am I. And maybe it’s weird, but I’ve been a little jealous of Lia—thinking she was going to be your new bestie. I feel much less jealous now that I know she’s your girlfriend!”
“I’m frightened, Kas,” she tells me. “Scared it will all go wrong. And people are so insensitive, wanting to put labels on things.”
“I’m sorry I did that,” I say. “What does Lia think?”
“She says we both want it, so we have to go for it.”
“And that is what you want, too?”
Ellie nods.
“Then go for it. Be brave. It probably won’t last forever—that’s what you told me, didn’t you? How many people marry someone they were at school with?”
“You’re right—we need to lighten up, just enjoy it. I’m glad I told you—I was scared. I thought it might be too much for you. I didn’t want to lose you, Kas.”
“No chance!” I tell her, and we hug.
* * *
I am so happy when Nav texts the following day to see if he can come over. I don’t feel up to getting out of bed, but I manage to sit up.
“Can you believe it?” I ask him.
Nav nods. “We did the right thing, Kasia. I’m glad we did it. I only wish we’d done it before.”
“I hope she’ll be okay now,” I say. “I hope she can get asylum or something.”
We sit silently for a few moments, but it’s not an awkward silence.
“Are you okay?” he asks. “You’re back in bed…”
“I think it’s the shock of everything,” I tell him. “But I get over setbacks much quicker now. The strict pacing has really helped. I’m sure I’ll be okay. In fact, I bet I’ll be up and about tomorrow.”
Nav nods again. Is that relief in his eyes? Like he cares—really cares? Or am I imagining it?
“I heard you were going out with someone?” Nav asks.
“What? I’m not… Oh, Josh? We only…we had two dates. It’s over now.”
“Good!”
I laugh. I’m sure I see a glimmer of a smile from him. Is he really glad that Josh is out of the scene? Does he actually like me…like that?
“Nav?” I say.
“What?”
“I’m sorry for how I was after the concert—for the things I said to you. I was feeling really bad, but I know that’s no excuse. I didn’t mean them—I promise you.”
He says nothing for a moment. Maybe I judged this wrong. I’m asking too much.
“I got the message,” he tells me. There’s a brusque tone to his voice. “I know you’re not interested in me like that. I know I’m too short for you—I get it. I never really expected anything more, but I was hurt.”
“Short?” I repeat. “What do you mean? This was nothing to do with you being short.”
He shakes his head firmly. “Oh, but it was—even if it was subconscious, Kasia. No girl wants to go out with a boy who is shorter than her. That’s just the way it is.”
“That’s silly, Nav! Maybe some girls think like that, but not me. I could say the same, why would anyone want to go out with someone with ME?”
“I don’t care about that,” he says with a shrug. “I like you. I like you as a person.”
“I feel the same about you,” I tell him. “Your height was never an issue.”
There’s silence for a moment. Somehow we can’t look at each other.
“Nav—I really am sorry about the things I said,” I say next. “I’d enjoyed the party so much, and I’d felt so normal—and best of all was being there with you. I was so disappointed when I relapsed, especially since it was two days later. That often happens, but it still feels like a kick in the teeth. I’d felt like I was starting to get back to the way I was before—that I might be able to go back to school soon—and then I was so much worse, and Dad was so angry, too. I lashed out at you. I didn’t mean what I said, and I’m sorry, truly sorry. Can you forgive me?”
“It’s not easy, Kasia. You hurt me big-time. I can’t make any promises.”
“Oh—okay,” I whisper.
I’m trying not to cry. I can’t cry. I can’t let him see how much it matters.
But then I see he’s smiling. “But if my height really doesn’t bother you, then I think we should give it a try, if you want to—go out with me, that is? Or even ‘stay in’ with me, when you’re not up to going out. Whatever… That is the convenience of living next door to each other!”
“I’d like that,” I say softly. “Yes, please.”