Secrets In The Shadows

Reaching Out

Kim Mai threaded her hands through her shoulder-length, jet black hair as her yoga students strolled out of the building, waving goodbye. Her friends, Blanca and Daniela, sorted their belongings and rummaged inside their bags, chatting. Blanca's black hair framed her beauty well, highlighting her sparkling green eyes, tall and well-toned build, and well-defined features. Daniela was equally beautiful, her dark brown hair tied up in a high bun, her figure trim and taut.

Kim wiped her face, neck and upper shoulders with a towel, then retrieved her phone. Looking around the centre, at the wall-to-wall abstract paintings and displays of positive affirmations lining the walls, she noted that the linoleum flooring needed a good mopping, but she'd felt less motivated lately.

She waved her friends over, and they followed her to the small kitchenette which featured a granite counter and sink, a small timber table with padded chairs, and a small sofa by a large bay window with a drawn lace curtain. "Let's have a coffee, girls." Daniela rushed inside like a tornado while Blanca ambled into the room.

Kim prepared three mugs with coffee, sugar and milk while Daniela and Blanca sat on the chairs.

"Great session, Kim. As always," said Daniela. "It keeps me sane and fit for my dance school."

Kim turned to her briefly and resumed her task of pouring water into the mugs. "Thanks, but I feel burnt out with this. Little return for intense work." She handed two cups to her friends and picked up her own, sitting between them.

Blanca stared at her strangely. "Are you still having second thoughts about the business?"

She shrugged, clasping her hands around the steaming cup and feeling their eyes on her. "I am struggling to keep up with the rent on this building. Business has gone down with this economy, and I cannot keep up with the changing business laws."

"I hear you, girl," said Daniela. "I'm the same with the dance school, but I still love it." She frowned. "It is doing well after all that publicity with my dad. Maybe that's what you need, Kim. I can get Rafael to do an article about the centre. What do you think?"

Blanca shoved Daniela on the shoulder. "Hey, what am I? Chopped liver? I can do an article about her business, too."

Kim laughed. "Daniela is in love and wants her man to do it. If only I had the same kind of love you both have. But I am doomed to have a failing business, no love life, and my mother and father micromanaging my life. It's all hopeless." Daniela and Blanca turned to each other briefly then gave her reassuring smiles. "I know I am all doom and gloom, but I do not know what to do." She sipped her coffee and flinched as it burned her bottom lip. Nothing was going her way, and she wondered where to start repairing her life.

Daniela took her hand and held it gently. "Now you listen to me, girl. All these things are fixable, and we can help."

"But I don't know what else I can do, other than yoga and meditation," said Kim. She was twenty-seven years old and felt she stood at a crossroad.

Daniela sighed and pulled tighter on her ponytail, soft wispy strands nicely framing her face. "It's just a matter of finding your passion and working towards it." She thrust out her chest. "What about the youth work qualification you finished a few years back? Is that an option?"

Kim frowned. "I might have completed the training, but I've never worked in the industry. What experience do I have?"

Daniela pressed her lips together, playing with the gold bangles around her right wrist. "Your nurturing nature, life experience, time with a junkie, spirituality, and wisdom. That counts for a lot, girl."

"Exactly," said Blanca. "What about your sprinting skills?"

Kim appreciated her friends' input, and how much they had recovered from their past ordeals. Poor Daniela had dealt with a madman playing risky games with her, and Blanca had experienced trauma and exploitation. Bouncing back from those challenges only proved they could cope with anything. "Right. I might be a fast runner and won a few awards back in high school athletics, but I don't plan to do that professionally."

Blanca shrugged. "Remember Daniela's financial issues after losing dance clients not that long ago?" Kim nodded. "She found a way out and so can you. You might need time off. Time away to relax and get perspective. Right now you're not thinking straight because of burnout and negative thoughts. Give yourself a chance to take a trip somewhere. Maybe all you need is a change of scenery."

Kim felt grateful for her friends' support and admired the success they were having. Blanca's journalism career had given her the opportunity to work overseas for six months, where she had met the love of her life. She and Carlos planned to get engaged. Kim couldn't wait to celebrate the happy occasion. She was tired of focusing on her own problems and needed an event to bring her out of her pessimistic attitude. "I am sorry. I will figure it all out, but for now I need to vent. I appreciate the advice, and perhaps I will take that vacation." She took a breath. "What is new with both of you? Please distract me."

Blanca replied first after drinking down her coffee. "Well, Rafael and I are writing about a drug trafficking case with the South American cartel around Madrid. So many local gang members under the age of eighteen, it's scary."

Kim flinched, not wanting to think about her ex-boyfriend, Manuel Perez, who had been a drug dealer five years earlier. She had been notified when he had been released from prison three months ago, and luckily she hadn't heard from him. Was he keeping out of trouble, or did he get back into the drug business? "That is scary. Imagine the parents who are stuck and have no way out for them. Particularly when their lives are in danger. They probably can't get out even if they wanted to."

Daniela nodded. "Exactly right, but the Civil Guard and police seem to be taking down a lot of these cartels. It's all a matter of time." She rubbed her hands. "I shudder to think what could have happened to Blanca when she was little."

Blanca swallowed. "Thank God we got a huge chunk of that organisation into prison."

Daniela faced Blanca then turned to Kim. "We have to tell you something."

Kim angled her head. "What is it?"

Daniela touched the base of her throat. "It's about Manuel."

Kim's body ached and trembled. Despite hating the guy, a part of her would always love him.