The Trafficked

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Rosario and Tina saw the man standing outside the foot spa. They watched as their work mates, touting for business outside, pointed in at Rosario. They saw him look through the window at her and they saw the women’s eyes fill with sympathy and their mouths give the Filipino smile as they pointed Rosario out to him. Rosario looked at Tina and Tina nodded. Rosario left her client and went outside to the man.

Tina watched them through the window. He was not a local man. He looked smartly dressed, he wasn’t on holiday. He looked like he had come down from the city to see her: he was well-dressed but solemn. She watched Rosario talk to the man and her friend covered her face with her hands and nodded her head as she listened to him talking. His head was bowed. He stood close to her. He was not allowing others to hear. Whatever he was saying it was for Rosario’s ears only. The man gave Rosario a piece of paper. Tina saw that Rosario was crying now. She was wiping away tears that fell so fast they fell onto her pregnant stomach and looked as red as blood on the pink ‘Paradise’ T-shirt. The man had finished talking. He was leaving and walking away down the lane. The piece of paper was still in Rosario’s hands. Tina came outside to her friend, who had not moved from the spot since the man left. She stood and stared at the paper.

‘What does it say, Rosario?’

Rosario wiped her tears from her face with the heel of her hand.

‘It says they were taken to the UK, in a lorry. They were held prisoners. They were badly hurt.’ She looked up at her friend and smiled. ‘But they are on their way home.’