Rising

Dangerous Journey

      I woke up the next day, and realized this was going to happen. I will start my journey to a better life. I got off my bed and got dressed. My bag was by the door and I picked it up, kissed my grandma on her forehead, being careful she didn’t wake up.

     “Goodbye grandma, I will miss you. I promise you it will get better. I love you” I whispered and left quietly. I breathed in the cool morning air and I could hear the roosters singing. I will miss this place, but this was for the best. I needed to move forward, and my grandma was the inspiration I need to do so.

      I arrived to the city and there were over fifty people waiting by the store. They were all chatting and laughing. Aren’t they nervous? Aren’t they afraid they won’t make it to the other side? It was going to be a long journey and I hoped to be able to go all the way until the end.

     “Niray!” I heard Sara, an old classmate from high school “I didn’t know you were joining us” 

     “It was kind of last minute. I found out about the guy yesterday” I replied, nervously.

     “I am glad you’re joining us. We can keep each other company” she said, holding my hand and giving it a squeeze of reassurance. I smiled at her and nodded. 

     We saw the American coyote approach us and give us instructions for the journey. “I will guide you the first half of the way, when you reach the city of Mexico, my partner will take over the journey and you will travel with him. I just have to warn you all, this is a dangerous journey, so brace yourselves for anything that might happen”

     Those words made me even more nervous. What if I didn’t make it across the border? I was just a simple farmer and I have never been outside of my country. But I had to do this. For myself, for my grandma. The journey had started, we walked for miles and miles until the night fell on our heads. Everyone took a spot and laid down to sleep. 

     I looked at the stars and I prayed to God to help me and to deliver me safe to the other side. I drifted to sleep and waited anxiously until the next day. 

     “Wake up everyone! Time to go!” The American guy yelled and we all woke up, ready to continue the journey. I looked around and I noticed my bag was gone. 

     “Wait! I can’t find my bag. Someone must have taken it” I said, but no one paid attention. I ran to the American guy and grabbed his arm. “Please sir, help me find my bag. I need it”

     “We don’t have time for that. If you lost it, there is nothing I can do about it” he said in Spanish. 

     “I thought you didn’t speak Spanish. You lied to me” I said, disappointed. He looked at me and laughed.

     “Of course I know. I’ve been dealing with your people for years. It was only fair I learned, now let’s move. And I’m sorry about your bag, but you’ll have to keep going without it”

      “But I had things that are sentimentally valuable” I said, in the verge of tears “please help me”

      He turned to me and with an evil smile he said, “it’s not my problem, sweetheart. I warned you this journey wouldn’t be easy. No crying allowed. If you want, you can go back to your little town and leave this to those who can” 

     I nodded and looked down, as I hugged myself. Sara came to my side and put her arm on my shoulder, reassuring me. 

     “I don’t know if I can do this. I shouldn’t have left my home” I said, tears finally falling from my eyes.

     “Nonsense. This is for a better life. It will be worth it. This is just a little bump and we have a long way to go. We haven’t even arrived to Mexico, so we need to be strong and continue. It will be fine, I promise” she said showing me a big smile. I smiled back and we kept going. 

      We finally made it to Mexico after a few days. I was exhausted, hungry and thirsty. We all sat down for a break, when the American came with bottles of water. “Well, people this is all I could get for you. My time with you is over, so my friend Gabe will take over and take you the rest of the way” he mentioned as he walked away and got on a bus that would take him back to Guatemala. I am sure he would find more people to fool. Because that is what I think he did. He fooled us.

      “Well everyone, try not to drink all that water, because we might not get more until you cross to the US. My friend was very generous, but I might not be the same. So now I want you all to get up and let’s keep going. We need to get as far as possible before the night falls again” he ordered and with groans and complaints, everyone stood up and kept walking. 

      More days have passed, and after train rides, river crossings and unexpected deaths, we finally made it to the big wall. I looked at it and I knew this was it. I was just a few feet away from my future. “This is for you grandma. For us” I said as I closed my eyes and thought about her. 

     “Keep an eye on the border patrol when you cross. They are like hawks and if they spot you, you’re by your own self” Gabe mentioned and everyone let out cheers of agreement. He led us to a hidden tunnel where it would be easier for us to cross, and I could see everyone eagerly going inside. I stood there thinking. 

     ‘Just a few more steps, and I would be there’