Icing on the Cake

~75~

We were sitting down in the living room. I could tell Julia was getting emotional.

“When I twelve-year-old in Ukraine, my father die by, what you say, mafia.” Julia started. I could tell she was struggling to speak and express her story in English, but she was speaking very slowly in attempt to.

“My mother so sad after he die,” Julia continued, “Two year later, she hang herself. I fourteen year, an orphan. I have no money, no food, no place to live. I have nothing but my body. I…take off clothes for men, they pay me.”

I took a big gulp of air. I could feel my eyes turn red out of empathy.

“The, Russia come in Ukraine. They come violent.” Julia explained. “Russian men come to bar, they see me take of clothes. One night, a big Russian man, grabbed me. He big and strong, I short and weak. He grab me, pin me down on ground. He cover my mouth with his hand, and hold my wrists with his other. He take off his pant and force himself on me.”

I was starting to silently cry. I looked over at Calum who was also starting to well up.

Julia started crying as well. “He beat me. He slap me and call me names. When he done, he took the little money I have with me. I need that money to pay for small home I live in. Since I don’t have money, I sleep on street for next month. Then, I miss period. I know I pregnant. The bar I work say I need…abortion. I don’t want. Since I get bigger, I can no longer work. I find church, and the church help find me place to live. I work as waitress then to pay for home and food. After I have twins, I work long days, standing on my feet, to pay for home and food. I loose my job and can’t find a different. I about to be homeless. I know I can’t feed my babies, that why I put them for adoption.”

I thought back to what Jenny told us about the twins.

“Then I find,” Julia continued, “Two rich, famous men from Australia want my babies. I ask to come with, and they say yes. I thank you for that.”

At this point, all three of us were crying.

“I’m glad you’re here.” I said to Julia. “And I’m glad you brought the twins into our lives.”

“I glad too.” Julia said. “And I know…all us three are parents now.”

“We’re a parenting team.” Calum said.

“I never can repay you for what you done for me and twins.” Julia said, standing up and opening her arms.

I took that as a sign for a hug, and went in for it. She reciprocated.

Notes