ay wandering the city

tered a clothing boutique and asked the cashier if

itions.

old to leave her CV.

rd shook his head before s

rs, girl. Some

walking, and the pit in her stomach had grown deeper than hunger

had no place to go. She'd bought a small meal f

ere closed, but the gate wasn't locked. Desperate, she slipped i

arms wrapped a

hispering winds. She lay on her side, her ba

lenge came on

for rest beneath the wide trees and dim sec

ugh, greasy hair, old jacket, a swagger that chilled her. He wa

l. You fr

dn't a

ly," he said,

"I don't want

care of you. Just give me a little somet

ed for h

rt slamming against her

aded. "Don'

dark street. With her suitcase in her hand. Her feet hit the pave

behind a trash bin, gasping

raped. Alone, help

ime the weight of

here there were lights, where she could be seen. She found a petrol station and hudd

oundskeeper, an old man with a kind but weathered face, was sweepi

een sleep

owly, unsure

keep doing this, child. It's not safe. This

ere else," s

t. "Go inside. Ask to speak to

ymn books. Sister Margaret was a tall, stern woman

fore her, hands

ts... they wanted me to marry a man I didn't choose.

didn't speak f

e the condition that you look for a job. Every day. Yo

Victoria's eye

lie to me, if you bring trouble to my c

derst

unds, and keep to the rules. This

ed gratefully

s. The spare room was small, bare mattress, co

he church steps, swept the courtyard, helped sister Marga

brought a new

ign tapped to a window of a res

sher/ General Assist

epped

Pieter sized her up with susp

arn fast. I can work hard. Pl

It's not pretty work.

n't m

week. Start tomorrow m

cried. "T

o the church with a heart

rand. She would find a small room to rent, ev

ise her baby

resting gently on her belly, a

wasn'

ld be mor

har

e scared girl who had

as Vi

made it

asn't tur