Well, that went well… and yes, I finally got her name.

I told her the method in which I was journaling and what I was doing with them. This made her a little hesitant at first, but eventually she was okay with it.

The two of them are really private; it’s a little strange, but I understand, I guess—Some people are just that way. She said that if it’s what I needed to do, then do it. She just asked that I give them nicknames and keep our location out of it.

For that, I gave her a curious side eye… Why are they being so secretive? Should I be worried?

I guess she understood my dilemma and how red flaggy the whole thing sounded because, immediately, she began fumbling around with her words trying to make it better—It was slightly entertaining, but genuine… At least I thought so.

After squirming a little bit, she offered a sign of trust by giving me her passport to hold on to and take to the cops if I ever felt endangered.

I checked it out. It’s really her, and all the information on it looks legit—from what I can tell—so I guess this offer of trust can stand for now.

Plus, posting these gives me a little trail of breadcrumbs. Even if saying my location is off the table, I’m sure they can find me. I see them do it on tv all the time… So, if she’s really okay with these posts—like she said—then I don’t think I have anything to worry about.

I don’t know, it sounds weird, but I don’t have a bad feeling about them. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I’m pretty good at reading people—a skill I’ve developed over the years—and usually, I know when to get out or walk away.

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This job offer, and its requirements, should be throwing red flags everywhere, and they are… But, it’s not for safety reasons, at least it doesn’t feel that way to me. Instead, it feels too good to be real.

Like I said, this woman is magic or something, because this opportunity… is unbelievable. I feel excited, not scared or nervous; and all the concerns about my ability to do the job disappeared after meeting her again.

All I have to do is help her run errands when she needs me too, but she already has the big man, so it can’t be too overwhelming. She also said some weird stuff about listening—like really listening—that I didn’t get, but I figure it can’t be too hard.

Of course, I’ll keep my head on a swivel—I always do—but I’m ready to see what she does and what this new chapter entails.

I start tonight.

I’m at the women’s shelter now, gathering my things. I let some of the older ladies know what’s going on, and they're all happy for me. Some of them even wanted to come along.

The two of them are supposed to meet me here, and I’ll leave with them afterwards. She’s bringing food again; but this time, instead of worrying about my own, I’ll be sticking by her side. I get to watch her work; maybe I’ll figure out what she does to make people spill their guts like I’ve been embarrassingly doing.

As for her nickname, I’ve decided to call her Bri.

My Grandma had a lot of old books—mainly about different mythologies and religions—and I went through those a lot as a kid. To me, Bri kinda looks like one of the women pictured in there, so I guess it fits.

I haven’t come up with a name for her bear-like companion. I’ll update you once I figure it out.

You know, maybe I’ll just call him Bear… Yeah, that fits.