Chapter 8: The Seal of Slavehood

Author’s POV: Olivera followed the woman with steady footsteps, trying to keep her head held high despite the mounting anxiety swirling inside her. Her chin was raised, projecting a confidence she didn’t feel, and her eyes darted across the field, taking in the sight of girls of all ages working tirelessly. They were all dressed in identical, light brown gowns that barely reached their mid-thighs—a dismal uniform that left them exposed, vulnerable. The thought made her sick. She wondered how many of them had been abused, how many had suffered at the hands of men who saw their attire as an invitation. The idea that this might be her reality soon sent a shiver down her spine. As they walked further, she came to an abrupt stop, her heart lurching at the sight of a tiny girl, no older than five, struggling to push a cart filled with heavy sacks of grain. The child’s frail arms trembled under the weight, her small face contorted with exhaustion. Olivera’s chest tightened as she watched th