A life that is mine

TW: discussion of sex trafficking, death of a sibling, a long incurable illness, parental rejection
 
Nel sipped tea with Odila, the halfing madam of Peitho's Palace. Since her brief time as a bouncer she made sure to pop in now and again to visit her friends at the brothel. After exchanging pleasantries, Odila stirred her tea pensively in her private room, and then said carefully,
 
"Did you know our boss with the organization changed? It used to be Hilda, but now it's Romy, and she's a bit more 'hands on'. Hilda only cared that we paid on time, but Romy? Well...say one of the workers wanted to quit...I'd have to ask her permission. Can you believe that? And she'd say no."
 
"Is there--does someone want out?" Nel asked, brows knitting in worry.
 
"No, no, of course not. It's just the principle of the thing, isn't it? By the way, you should visit Nadine on before you go. She said she's been missing you."
 
***
 
"Nadine, love," she said to the young human tiefling woman a little later in her room, "you want some help making a change?"
 
Nadine froze, eyes wide in panic.
 
"I'm not saying you are, but if you did, I might know a safe place you could go. And people who could help you."
 
Nadine took a breath. "My brother died last week."
 
"Oh no, love. I'm so sorry."
 
The tiefling nodded. "I...started doing this a few years ago. He got sick. Something the healers couldn't fix, but there was medicine that could...help...at least for a while. I never...liked this work, but it was the fastest way to make the money my family needed for the medicine. And...I miss him...but he don't need it anymore."
 
Nel nodded back in understanding. "Do you want to go home to your parents?"
 
Nadine quickly and vehemently shook her head. "No. No, they're ashamed of me, of what I do. Never stopped them from taking the money I sent, but I ain't welcome back and it ain't a place I want to go."
 
"I'm so sorry. They should honor what you did for your brother."
 
Nadine just shrugged in response with a soft, bitter laugh. "They wanted me to do something respectable. But weren't nothing like that that didn't require an apprenticeship. And this paid better."
 
"Taking care of your family *is* respectable," Nel replied softly. "What do you want now, dear heart?"
 
"I don't know, really, but...I want a life that is mine. Is that selfish?"
 
Nel smiled sadly and shook her head. "Not even a little bit." She took a breath. "It's dangerous, trying to get out of the organization. But it can be done. Is this a risk you want to take, to have a life that is yours?"
 
Nadine's composure crumbled for a just a moment as she brought a hand to her mouth and choked back a sob, but she nodded. "Yes," she finally managed.
 
Nel nodded solemnly. "Then I need to go talk to some people who can help you. It may take a couple of days to set things up. But we'll find a way."