Sean told his story.

He told her about the saddest day of his life when he lost his Dad and ran away from home.

He told her about leaving Lyla and his days with Daniel hiding in the woods, sleeping on the streets, working on a pot farm in California.

He told her about the cult Daniel was kept and his reunion with his Mom.

And of course he told her about Daniel leaving him at the border to hopefully live with his grandparents and his friend Chris.

When he was finished telling his story he cried. It was so relieving telling someone his story but all the feelings he hid over the last months came back immediately.

Maria got closer to him. She caressed his back and whispered calming word to him. Even if they both haven't been this close before Sean needed a friend who helped him through this. He had this burden caring about Daniel all the time and felt that Maria was maybe the right person who cares about him now. He was still a kid; he still needed someone to help him.

After Sean got calmer it was Marias turn to tell her story.

She actually grew up in Hermosillo with her Mom and her older half-brother Emanuel. She never knew her father. Her brother was 2 years older than herself. When she was 10 years old her mother met a new man who moved into their apartment immediately. He was nice first but it turns out that he was an abusive alcoholic who sexually assaulted Emanuel. Her mother always knew but wasn't strong enough to stop this or leave the man. Emanuel couldn't handle it anymore and left the family when he was 14. He lived on the streets before joining a gang.

Maria and Emanuel still were in contact with each other since she avoided being at home as much as possible. Her stepdad abused Maria too when her older brother wasn't around anymore.

"These days have been really dark for me, you know. I tried to kill myself 2 times. But Emanuel saved me. He has gone through the same shit. We really grew together during this time." Maria didn't want to tell more about her stepdad and Sean could understand.

Emanuel really got deep into organized crime and dealt with drugs and human trafficking. When Maria was 15 she left her Mom after a huge fight. She asked Emanuel for a job. He first hesitated but the other options were worse. She started selling drugs to tourists and was a promoter for clubs and casinos that belonged to the family. She could live in one of the mafia houses and spent more time with her brother now.

"I was happy not to live on the streets. This is really dangerous especially for young girls or boys. But who am I to tell you. You're lucky to still be alive. Within the family I found some people my age, good ones and bad ones. Hermosillo is not the worst place to live in but there are bad people and places too - like everywhere on earth."

Maria and Sean took a break to cook something for dinner. They didn't talk much. Everyone was lost into their own thoughts. It was late afternoon when Maria continued.

She was 17 when she met Marco. He was 10 years older than her and the nephew of the family boss.

"Emanuel wasn't happy that he picked up on me. He warned me that Marco is a gigolo who wouldn't treat me right. But I was young and felt special that a high family member showed interest in me. Marco also gave me a new job since he didn't wanted me to hang out on the streets anymore. I learned to make fake passes and immigration papers, work permits and so on. It's a really profitable business here near the US border."

"That's how you get my papers?" Sean asked.

"Yeah, I still do have my connections to those people." Maria responded.

Marias voice turned into a whisper. "Then came the time Emanuel died. He was shot from one of his own guys."

She never knew what exactly happened. The killer disappeared through mysterious circumstances. She always believed that Marco did something to him.

"I was relieved that Marco was around. He helped me getting through this – obviously not in a good way. We had a wild toxic relationship." Maria let out a bittersweet laugh. "He took me to places I have never seen before. He showed me the world. We have been to New York, Paris and numerous beaches. But he gave me drugs too. When Emanuel was around I never took any of them but I had a huge depression and I just wanted to be happy again. I'm really not proud about this. I have become a person I never wanted to be."

Maria was 24 when she realized that something is wrong in her life. "I tried to get away from taking drugs and got into arguments quiet often with Marco. I wanted to leave him and the family and start over in Mexico City. When he found out he started hitting me and got really violent against me. Once he broke my arm and choked me until I got unconscious. Looking back I guess Marco always had these violent tendencies. It lasted 2 years before I finally could escape. Marcos brother Louis helped me and convinces his brother to let me go." Maria paused to cook coffee. She wished she could have something stronger.

"I never made it to Mexico City since I had no money. Marco still had control over my life and gave me that apartment. But whenever I applied for a job here in Hermosillo to gain money he threatened the people not to hire me. I never had a chance to make it here and I never got the chance to leave. So I started working as a prostitute to become independent and to survive. But Marco will never let me go. He still wants me to come back – God knows why…" Maria sighed. She stood up and walked around – her arms crossed. "So, that's my story. 5 years gone and I'm stuck here. I hardly have any friends. They are all too scared to get in trouble with Marco." She looked outside the window. The dusk almost settled in.

Sean didn't know what to say. He felt sorry for her. She seemed really lonely. "I'm so sorry." He stuttered.

"Don't be, Sean. It's nothing you can change. Our past is part of our lives. All we can do is to stay strong, try to be a good person and deal with it." She looked at him and smiled. "After all this depressing shit I really need ice cream and a Pixar movie. Are you in?"

"Yes, Ma'am!"