The Van

I arrived at the meeting spot early. I was anxious about agreeing to this, but I was more excited than I’ve been in a long time. My heart was beating faster.

I was wearing a loose dress that I was planning to donate and a bra that didn’t fit me anymore. It was tight around my ribcage, and my boobs bulged over the top. I wore a cheap wig, one of my old ones. It had taken me an hour to detangle and style it. It didn’t suit me, but it wouldn’t have to for long.

Something inside me told me I should turn around, walk quickly back to my car, and drive home. But I didn’t want Mark to be disappointed. He had been arranging this for two weeks. Besides, I’m stubborn. I’ve seen things through even when I knew they weren’t going to work out, so I was going to see this through, regardless of how nervous I was.

It was past time now, and I was more anxious. I heard a vehicle coming down the gravel road. An Amazon van came into view around the nearby curve. I wasn’t sure if this would be Mark. As it came closer, on a whim I turned my back to the van and started walking away. It slowed, then stopped right beside me. I turned and two men stepped out of the side door, grabbed me by my arms, and pulled me into the van. Two other men sat in...