What's Wrong with Alex?

I haven't seen Alex in a long time, you could say I'm worried by now. Luckily, I got in touch with her and she finally agreed to meet me. She made me promise I wouldn't bring anyone and that I wouldn't tell anyone where we were meeting or that we were meeting at all for that matter. This information scared me half to death. What happened to her?

The Meeting

I don't know what I was expecting, but I know what I wasn't expecting. I wasn't expecting to meet Alex in an incredibly secluded area. I wasn't expecting her to show up late. And I certainly was not expecting to see her bruised and battered. She wasn't happy, I could tell. Alex had dark bags under her eyes and bruises all over her face. Her eyes no longer held the light they used to, now they were black holes. I was staring at her, but I felt like I was looking at someone else. This is not the person I knew so long ago.

The first thing she whispered to me was, "don't tell anyone." I nodded.

These are the things I noticed:

• She had a black eye the size of a fist and she was skinnier
• She was crossing her legs as if she were hiding something, she was scared
• She looked older, but not because she looked more mature, but because all the life seemed like it was drained out of her
• Whatever was happening had to stop

She told me she was okay, that she was living with someone named David and he took care of her. She said she was free of her group home and she was making money. She said she was happy, but when she said that, I could see her hesitation. She was lying.

After talking and catching up for a while more, I asked her if we could meet up again sometime. She said that tomorrow we could meet up again, at the same time.

I would be prepared this time.

To End It

Before meeting up with Alex, I told the police and group home what was happening to Alex, despite her wishes. The cops watched as Alex walked up to me, even more beat up than yesterday. "I'm sorry, but this," I said pointing at her face, "will stop... it has to." She stared at me wide-eyed, pleading for me to stop this... I didn't. the darkness.

After a lot of convincing, Alex told the cops everything David made her do, including the prostitution to pay for staying at his place. He beat her up frequently but she stayed because she was afraid of what he could do. She said that she had no where to go if she ran away, that he would find her. After this information was gathered, the cops caught David and he will be charged how he deserves to be. As for Alex, she's happy again and the life in her eyes is back. That's what she needs, what everyone needs; just some light to guide you in the darkness.

The End