1 Every Freedom Has its Price

Disclaimer:

All parts of this book is purely fictional. The names of the country and the places are real, but has no connection to the writer.

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She was finally free.

After being married to a man who sees her as a pleasure house, the shackles that held her to the man was removed. No more fearful nights, no more broken promises, no more hoping things will be better. And most of all, her kids would not be suffering as well.

The judge presiding over their annulment case has given her full custody of her children. The jury and the people who were inside the courtroom were horrified to hear how her now ex-husband had been treating her and the kids. So it came to a surprise to her that the ex have no right to visit his own kids.

And that, made her decision easy.

Julie Madrigal looked at her two kids who were seated beside her. Claude and Nicole were fast asleep, thier bodies laying comfortably. This was one of the perks of traveling in first class.

Julie looked out the window. She still couldn't believe that they were traveling to Scotland. It was a dream come true.

The dark sky looked lovely from up above. The moon cast a lovely shine to the scattered clouds making everything looked like they were bathed in silver. Too bad she didn't have the right camera for the job.

Nicole whimpered in her sleep, Julie tucked the blanket underneath her chin, and patted her small tummy. She also glanced at Claude, he was sleeping peacefully. She wanted to sleep, but until they were in their destination sleeping would be impossible, then again, she could always blame jet lag.

[I want you and your kids to stay with me as soon as possible. Don't worry about the tickets, or the Visa, I'll handle everything, just make sure that all of you have a passport, and we are good to go.]

Those were Jane's instructions two years ago. She was also the person who gave her enough money to start the annulment process, and their passport application. Julie never spent a single cent, she owed her a great deal of money, but when ever she tell her that she will pay her back, her only reply was this: all I want is for you to be here with me, then we are even.

So, here she was traveling half way across the globe to repay a debt. A debt may she add, that was near impossible for her to pay. Julie just sighed.

Her mom thought she was kidding. After all, she has no friends in Scotland, much less in the Highlands, why was she moving to another country? Her, a mother of two children, suddenly uprooting her kids. Her, a woman who couldn't even find a high paying job. How can she survive living in a place she nothing about?

It hurt though. Julie can't help but remember how shocked her mom was when they started packing after the annulment was finalized.

"What do you mean you and your kids are leaving?" Her mom asked. "Where will you go? Back to that stupid husband of yours?"

"No, ma, we are not going there. We are going to Scotland. Our flight leaves at seven in the evening."

"Scotland? How did you even got a visa there? Why didn't you tell me this?"

"Would you believe me if I told you me and the kids are going to Scotland?" Silence answered her question. "See? You won't. All of you thought of me as incapable. You are the type of person who would rather see the change right away. Like right now, and if you don't like what you see, you look down on them."

"And being married for five years is not enough for a change? You should have at least a house or a good job or -"

"Ma, do you see anyone helping me? Have you seen their father do something for us? Did you even notice that I needed help?"

"You should learn to do everything by your self! Have you seen me ask anyone for help when your father died?"

"Did you ever asked me how I was after he died?" She quietly asked. "You were not the only one who had a hard time, Ma. I worked hard and forgot about my needs just so I could be a good daughter to you. I did my best to buy things, pay bills, and buy food for the family. I had to look for another job just to make ends meet. But, Ma, have you ever asked if I was okay? Did you ever wonder why I never said anything? Did you even realize that I was slowly getting sick?"

"I trusted you!"

"No, ma, the trust you are talking about is not about me. Its about me, taking care of everyone. You trusted me to take the mantle, to be the bread winner. To be the one to give you things that dad wasn't able to. That was you trusted me for. And me being pregnant, was not about trust. It was about not being able to help you and everyone anymore." Julie continued packing thier things then she added, "was I truly needed? Or I was just needed to bring money in the house? When everyone started earnings more than me, you were so proud of them. But mom, when I was the sole person who was earnings to keep things afloat...were you even proud of me?"

Silence was her only answer, as her mom continue to look at her as she pack her one suitcase for them. Funny, all thier precious belongings could only fit in one suitcase.

"When will you come back here?" Her mom asked.

"All of you wanted us to be gone, ma. You all thought that we are a burden. That I should just leave so I could learn how to live alone," Julie said in an exhaust voice. "Why would I go back to a place no one wanted me for the first place? Why bother to stay when I know that we are just added to the expenses? Will our place still be here when we visit? No. The moment we are gone, I know this room will be occupied. That is what everyone wanted for a long time. There is nothing else for us here. Why should we return?"

"Because we are a family."

"Funny thing, ma...I never felt like I was part of this family..."

"You are the one who doesn't want to be part of it!"

"No, Ma... you never tried to include me..."

After saying those words, the kids ran and hugged their grandma one last time. It was painful, but at the same time, it was the only way for her to make everyone realize that she was never part of the family.

She saw a flash of lighting in the distance. From their altitude, it looked more beautiful.

"Everything will be okay, my loves. Mommy promise to do her best," she vowed to her kids.

Another lighting flashed, Julie smiled. Somehow, watching how mother nature display her powers was a thing to behold. And it also gave her the courage...

The courage to be strong and face whatever the future holds...