Chapter 3 – The First Visit to the Police Station
The first time Sara went to the police, nobody had hit her.
Nobody had threatened to kill her.
Nobody had locked her inside the apartment.
Her father had taken her passport.
Her brother had started waiting outside the bakery after her shifts.
Her mother checked where she was going.
And every conversation eventually returned to Matteo.
“He is not from us.”
“He will leave you.”
“You don’t understand men.”
“You will regret humiliating your father.”
“You are breaking this family.”
Sara told Lucia enough that Lucia became worried.
“Come with me,” Lucia said.
“To where?”
“Police.”
Sara almost laughed.
“For what?”
“For this.”
“This is family arguing.”
Lucia stared at her.
“Is it?”
That afternoon, they went.
The officer listened carefully.
He asked whether anyone had threatened her.
Sara hesitated.
“No.”
“Physically stopped you from leaving?”
“No.”
“Assaulted you?”
“No.”
“Do you fear for your safety?”
Sara looked at Lucia.
Then back at the officer.
“I don’t know.”
It was the most honest answer she gave.
The officer explained options.
He documented the concern.
He gave her information for a local women’s support service.
He told her that if anyone threatened her, prevented her from leaving, took her somewhere against her will or became violent, she should call immediately.
Sara left disappointed.
Not because the officer had been rude.
He had not.
But because everything happening to her felt enormous inside the apartment and almost invisible once described out loud.
My mother cries when I leave.
My father says I am killing him.
My brother waits outside work.
They took my passport but say it is for safekeeping.
Nobody had to explain why those sentences sounded smaller at a desk.
