"Mom, I’m home and I need your help,” the boy shouted entering the house.

I dithered at the threshold, not wanting to invade their privacy.

“Jamie, who is it?”

The voice belonged to a lady. She had the same hazel eyes and fierce orange hair which stood out among her almost ordinary features.

Her eyes looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember how.

I could see her jaws drop as she took in the whole situation. Me standing there, drenched in blood and his son trying to get me in.

I could sense her uneasiness at my presence.

“What mom,” Jamie sounded angry, “Won’t you call her in?”

“Ummm…Yeah, sure. Come in. What happened? Did you have an accident? Were you assaulted?”

Her eyes had a million questions.

“It’s okay. Just lend me your phone and I’ll call the police. I had been kidnapped,” I tried to avoid going in.

“Did they hurt you? Please come inside. I’d get you some bandages,” Jamie was at my side.

‘No, they didn’t hurt me. I hurt myself trying to escape. Actually, I suffer from a rare genetic disorder called Epidermolysis bullosa which makes my skin really fragile. So with the friction and everything, the skin tore off causing the blood loss…”

And thus I explained everything to them of how I had been kidnapped and how I had escaped.

I could see something shift in her eyes at the name of EB. She seemed to be lost in thoughts for a split second before gaining her composure again.

“Please come in and take care of your wounds. I’m so sorry that this happened to a sweet girl like you.”

She took me in and helped me clean up and put a temporary bandage around the wounds.  She even offered me her clothes as the blood-stained clothes went into the washing machine.

Then she called the police telling them all the details. The police promised to keep a vigilant watch on the kids and also assured that they would track down their hideout and get the biggies arrested.

Once it was done, came the most dreadful part, reassuring my mother that I was safe.

She offered to take up that challenge too.

Putting her smartphone on speaker, she called my mother.

“Who’s it?” An anxious voice enquired from the other end. I was shaky and flustered. I knew what my mom must have been through.

“Look, if you’re the one who’s kidnapped my daughter, please say how much money you need, I’ll give it to you. Please let her go,” my mother broke down over the phone, giving my host no chance to speak.

“Mrs Wellesley, It’s okay. Your daughter is with us and she’s safe and sound. Your brave girl escaped from the kidnappers,” Jamie’s mother tried to calm her down.

“She’s there? Oh my god! Could you please give the phone to her?’

Jamie gestured to me.

“I’m her mom. It’s okay. I’m fine. I escaped and informed the police…”

I recounted all the events to my mom.

She went on listening, sobbing in the middle.

Finally, she said, “Where are you? I’m coming to pick you up.”

“Umm…Mrs. Wellesley, actually I think it’s late already,’ Jamie’s mother cut her off, “You needn’t come here at this odd hour. Your daughter could stay with us for the night. You pick her up in the morning. No big deal.”

I stared at the lady in disbelief. How do people change according to situations? I couldn’t just believe that she had no more doubt in me anymore.

“Thank you so much,” my mother’s voice came, laced with tears.

“You’re most welcome. See you tomorrow.” My hostess put the phone down.

She was beaming at me.

I returned the smile nervously.
Yay! You’re staying for the night,” Jamie almost jumped on me.

“Jamie, I’m very fragile,” I warned.

“Oops, I’m sorry,” he loosened his grip on my shoulders.

‘But you know Phoebe, I like you. Will you be my friend? We could totally stay in contacts.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind,” I smiled ruffling his hair.

“You’re so nice.”

“Kids, come to dinner,” Jamie’s mother called.

“Oh I’m famished,” he remarked, jumping down from the bed and running to the door.

I shook my head and followed, knowing that I couldn’t eat even a morsel.