Months passed, I managed to fix the wheels on the dusty bike, but it wasn't her that needed my attention. Maybe that piece of iron that attached to the bike's skeleton could easily be put on, but the scar on my girl's knee would carry that memory forever.

** 2001 – Texas **

Her friend's voluminous, screaming coughs woke her up. Her little body under the cold blanket shivered incessantly.

After the terrible rain the night before, the dark basement felt colder and wetter. And the two felt that freezing air all morning, breaking through the thin covers.

The tinkling of the cane touched the wood, a hollow, lifeless sound:

- But what's that noise? - Leona said coming down the stairs. - Jack, come here!

Behind him, the man bowed his head as he passed through the single cellar door.

- I think the girl is sick. The woman steadied her, adjusting the cane beside her.

Clara watched her friend trembling, her eyes closed and her breathing heavy.

"We need to get her out of here if she can't pass the cold on to the other one," Jack commented.

- Take her upstairs, and leave her in one of the rooms.

Jack took Jennifer on his lap, still curled up on the blanket, went up the steps, but stopped near the door:

- Don't you think you better get them both out of here, before she gets sick too, because it's too cold.

-Whatever-he replied in a carefree tone-Come on girl, get your things and follow your father to your room.

Unlike the basement, the room smelled of wet wood and mildew, however, it was a little cozier, as it had two beds and a larger window that looked out over the plantation.

Jack left Jennifer on one of the beds, covering the girl with another blanket.

Leona appeared in the doorway with a cup of tea.

- Isn't it better to take him to the hospital? asked the man.

- It's just a cold, then it passes... - said the woman taking the cup to the girl's mouth.

- But Leona, I don't want that to happen again...

- Relax my dear, won't you... - She turned to Clara across the room - You will help your father in the plantation.

Clara moved her face watching her friend. She didn't look well. A gray smudge circled below her eyes, and her eyelids were tired, she could barely open them.

Jeniffer pulled the covers close to her neck, revealing her fingertips in purple tones, in contrast to her pale skin.

- Don't you think you better get it now boys? - Jack commented sitting on the bed.

-No, they are more irritating to control, girls are less trouble-he replied.

Jack got up from the bed, and directed to Clara:

- Let's work...

The boots gave a slight impression that they had stones tied to the soles, as they walked through the mud and puddles, leaving the trail of their feet on the damp ground. Maybe that's how bigfoot felt - she thought with a slight smile behind Jack as she admired her father's footprints.

Little hands of hers gripped the top of the ill-fitting boot on her feet every time she took a step. But there was a bright side; the weeds didn't reach her knees, causing that irritating itch.

The soft soil made it easy for her to arrange a few rainfed lettuce plants. Although there is almost nothing left of what she had planted weeks ago. Jack announced loudly pulling out one of the survivors who was dragged away:

- We have almost nothing...

Clara looked at the house, absorbed. A feeling of worry began to arise when looking at the bedroom window.

- Girl go to the punishment room and get me a hoe! shouted the man.

Clara looked toward the narrow path in the middle of the plantation.

- Come on! - shouted the man again, the basket in his hands.

Leaving the basket there, she headed towards the dreaded punishment room. The bushes covered a good part directing the way.

A few feet away, she spotted a small wooden room. The sound of the chain hanging from the door brought goosebumps to her skin. Eyes wide, she headed towards the door.

She never dared go near this part of the farm, it was scary.

Her hands were shaking as she pulled the makeshift doorknob with some wood and nails. She closed her eyes, building up a little courage, and pulled at once, making a noise at the lock.

With the little light through the door, she was able to visualize the hoe, but it was enough to pull the object out and close the door again. The sound of something indescribable falling made her heart race. She lost her balance, falling backwards onto the wet grass, with her, the hoe handle came towards her, hitting her arm that was positioned slightly over her face, receiving the impact.

-Alright…-she started to say to herself while the pain gave signal warming her arm.

With her other hand, she brought it to her lips, holding back the intense urge to cry. Gradually she calmed down, catching her breath and squeezing the end of her injured arm.

She looked back, afraid that Jack was on his way, when she regained her courage, she got up, taking the hoe at her side.

Looking at the small house ahead, she noticed one of the creepy branches on the roof.

Curious, she walked around in narrow strides, when her heart pounded again, but this time with hope as she saw that the tree had propped up on one of the wooden fences, opening a gap between the misplaced rafters.

"Thank you Daddy," she said in a whisper.

It was a perfect way out the next day, after all, by all accounts; Jack didn't know about this loophole, yet.

*

The night had taken hold of her, without any delay.

Jennifer was still coughing a lot, but the fever had gone down from what Leona had said.

She couldn't run without her mate, it would be unfair, but at the same time she was fighting time, coming up with a plan. After all, it was only a matter of time before the Drakes found the fence broken.

She pushed open the door silently, and carefully made her way down the wooden stairs barefoot.

The brightness of the lighted lamps showed that they were awake in the room.

Stopping at the steps, she sat up, leaning her shoulder against the wall so they couldn't see her.

Leona was on the sofa next to her husband, her back to the stairs.

- This is the life Leona always wanted - she said - Just relax...

- But not mine - commented Jack - I'm worried about the girl...

- Don't start Jack - said the woman lifting a glass of wine - We have everything, money, a huge farm, maids - She let out that laugh.

- Tomorrow I need to see the news in town, about us...

- You're right, go and Leona stay with the girls. - She swirled the wine inside the glass - If you need some disguise...

"I know..." He raised his arms, stretching. - Let's go to sleep.

Clara rose from the step, and tiptoed up, silently back into the bedroom.

Jennifer was still asleep, but it was necessary to explain the plan, so she woke the girl up and told her what she had in mind.

...

Looking at my girl Ise's knee, I came to the conclusion that there are wounds that heal over time, but deep ones don't heal in the same way, and this was one of them...