Just for Tonight

Xav dug through his backpack. After almost 10 months of travelling South America, he wasn’t sure how much longer it would last. The straps had broken and been re-tied several times over. The giant holes, earned from tossing his bag aside for last minute adventures and bearing slightly too much weight, were hastily patched from the cheapest fabric he could find. Maybe it was time for his old friend to retire.

Where was it? Passport.. washcloth.. socks.. antibiotics.. raincoat-- ah there it was! His wallet: thinner each day. Today he had-- 10,000 Colombian pesos. Damn. Just a little over 5 U.S. Dollars. Time to find a job.

~~~~~

Stepping out of the airport, Xavier zips up his black leather jacket a bit further. It’s April. He had forgotten how chilly it still is in Colombia this time of year. When was the last time he had been here? He only took this location because no one else his level could make it. Well, that, and his boss offered him that bonus. From the moment his plane landed, started having second thoughts about that choice. A woman in a green button-down shirt rushes by him and into the arms of a waiting group of grinning people. Family?  

His boss had explained that there would be a man with a sign somewhere in this mass of people. After passing back and forth through the terminal a few times, Xavier finally sees a short and stocky man holding a sign way above his head. He’s older. His black hair is just beginning to grey at the sides but the way he wears it makes him looked distinguished even in his ill-fitted brown suit. His face goes from blank to curious as Xavier approaches.

“Mr. Xavier Young?” As Xavier nods, the worry lines in his forehead transform into smile wrinkles reaching all the way out to his ears.

“Perfect! The car is waiting outside. Follow me, please.”

~~~~~

Elbow deep in soap and dirty water, Xav sighed. There was no way this job was going to get him back home. “Mierda.” Xav cursed under his breath. Clasping his hands together behind his back, he stretched. Minimum wage was 3200 pesos per hour. It had been a couple weeks already. At this rate it would take about 4 months to get home and that was if he starved himself. This gap year was supposed to end in two months. His parents made sure to let him know that after that, he was on his own. For good.

There had to be a better way.

---

After his shift, Xav washed his hands and prepared his backpack to leave. There were only a few others left in the kitchen. Out of the corner of his eye, Xav noticed one of the other dishwashers staring him down. Alex. He was leaning against the back wall, arms crossed, studying him. Seeming to decide something, he kicked off the wall and approached Xav.

“Hey. I heard you need a job. Can you drive?”

~~~~~~

“So will this be your first time in Colombia?” The man from the airport, Andres, eagerly tries to make conversation as their car drives from the airport to the city.
“Second. I lived here for a while when I was much younger. Wow, now that you mention it, it must have been more than 25 years ago. So much has changed.” And it had. The road to the city is just as beautiful but everything is somehow brighter. There are new buildings around every turn and a lot of the ones he thinks he might recognize are repaired and freshly painted.

Unlike the dull grey and tan shades at home, the buildings heading into the city are alive. Yellows like sunshine and deep blues like the late sky on a summer evening. Flowers pour out of gardens cultivated on the sides of buildings, dotting the already colorful buildings with even more life. Each new burst of color feels like a mockery. Maybe, Xavier thinks, I can cut this trip short.

~~~~~

“I have a job that needs to be done and car I need you to drive. Do it and I’ll buy your ticket home.”

“Really? No way! You serious?”

“Yeah.”
“What’s it for?”

“Helping out a friend. Don’t ask questions and I’ll buy your ticket plus some.”
Xav ran his hand through his hair. It was getting long. He took a breath.

“...Done.”

~~~~~~

As the sun retires, the stone streets of old city begin to glow gold under the streetlights. They’re still driving. Andres explains that the night is Xavier’s. Before the business conference starts the next morning, Xavier has all the time he wants to either explore the city or just head to bed. Xavier opts for just driving around till inspiration arises. Looking out the window, he takes a breath and takes everything in.

Up ahead, there are a few small figures walking around. As the car gets closer, Xavier notices that they are young women. They don’t seem like they are headed anywhere in particular.

~~~~~~

The car was stick shift. Alex hadn’t mentioned that when he handed Xav the keys after work.

His instructions were clear. Get in the car behind the kitchen four hours after shift ended, Drive the 345km overnight from Cordoba to Cartagena. Touch nothing but the front seat and the wheel. Don’t stop for anything or the deal was over. Someone would be waiting with his payment.

Something wasn’t right. Clearly. But Alex was the kind of guy you didn’t want to mess with. That, and this deal was probably going to be his best bet for getting home before the deal with his parents expired. Xav put the keys into the ignition and turned.  

~~~~~~

This part of town is famous for its prostitution ring. But today, one woman stands out in particular. She wears a light blue dress, almost white, and heels too high for her to keep up with the other women she is wandering with. Somehow, she catches Xavier watching from the back window of the car and stops in her tracks. She has deep brown eyes.
~~~~~~~

As he reached his destination, Xav saw a taxi waiting. A thin man wearing a crisp new black shirt, a skinny white tie, and dark sunglasses stepped out. In one hand he held what looked like a ticket and in the other a small backpack. He was dressed nicer than most people Xav had met outside of his parent’s business friends and walked with the confidence of someone who knew he was on top.

“You Xavier?” His voice was higher than Xav expected. Xav nodded. “This is for you then.”  Xav took an unconscious step back as the man approached. The man paused, and looked Xav up and down in a quick appraisal. He chuckled.

“Look, give me the keys and get in the taxi. The driver will take you anywhere you want to go.” The man put the ticket in the front zipper of the backpack and tossed it in Xav’s direction. It landed on by Xav’s feet. “Here’s your payment.”

It took a few moments for Xav to make his decision. He slowly reached down and grabbed the bag, keeping his eyes on the man the whole time. He tossed the bag over one shoulder and the keys toward the man. Xav didn’t look into the bag to verify how much extra he had gotten.

Quickly walking over to the taxi, he closed the door and got in, refusing to look back.

“Where to?”

 “Just drive. Back to the main road for now.”

As the taxicab started, Xav knew things wouldn’t be right unless he took one last look out of the back windshield. The man was opening the back of the car and pulling something out. Was that… a hand? No, a full young woman. She was moving sluggishly but she was alive. She had been drugged. Her clothes were ripped. As the taxi drove further, her deep brown eyes gained back enough strength to lock with Xavier’s.

“Shit.”

“Anything wrong? Should I pull over? Have you decided where you want to go?”
“Don’t stop. Just... keep driving. To the airport please.” This trip was over.

~~~~~~

“Stop the car.”

“What? Why? There’s not much around here--”

            “Stop the car.” Xavier unlocks his seatbelt and reaches for the door handle. Moving or not, he is getting out of this car. The cab driver screeches to a halt.

Xavier approaches the young woman with the stride of a younger man.

            “Senorita?” The woman takes a single step back, crosses her arms and looks away, her smile quickly fading. She’s young. Xavier’s Spanish is a bit rusty after all of these years. He pauses and thinks before speaking with her again.
            “No voy a hacerte daño.” I’m not going to hurt you.

            Suddenly adjusting her stance, the woman seems to remember what she’s supposed to be doing. She stands straight-- confident. Those deep brown eyes meet Xavier’s with a certain determination.

“Quieres comprar un noche conmigo?” Do you want to buy a night with me? Her tone is practiced. Somehow firm and business-like while still remaining enticing.

            “Sólo por esta noche. Por favor.” Just for tonight. Please.

Her name is Lorena. Xavier books the best hotel room he can afford. The two take the elevator, standing shoulder to shoulder in uncomfortable silence.

“Pues?” Well?

The two spend the evening talking, laughing, and ordering whatever Lorena wants from the hotel menu. They use the bed only when Lorena gets tired and wants to lie down.

She falls asleep mid-sentence still smiling from their conversation. Xavier covers her in a blanket, leaves more than twice what she said an evening would cost on the dresser, and turns off the light. It would still never be enough to change things.
            “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he whispers as he shuts the door. Xavier runs his hand through his hair, now short, and takes the stairs to the lobby.

            Tonight, the stars didn’t shine as brightly as he remembered from all those years ago.