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These bikers kidnapped my twins and I begged them not to bring them back. I know how that sounds. I know what you’re thinking.
My name is Sarah. I’m a single mom to three-year-old twins, Anna and Ethan. Their father left when they were six months old. Said he couldn’t handle the responsibility. I haven’t heard from him since.
I work two jobs. Morning shift at a medical office. Night shift cleaning offices downtown. My mom watches the kids during the day. I watch them at night. We’re barely surviving but we’re surviving.
The twins were tired and cranky. Anna was crying because I wouldn’t buy the cookies she wanted. Ethan was throwing his stuffed dog on the floor over and over. I was exhausted. I’d worked until 3 AM the night before and been up with the kids at 6 AM.
I got to the register. The total was $52. I’d miscalculated. My face went hot. There were people behind me in line. The cashier was waiting. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I need to put something back.”
“Ma’am, there’s a line,” someone behind me said. My hands were shaking. I was about to cry. I grabbed the bread. “I’ll put this back.”
He was holding out a fifty-dollar bill to the cashier. “Her total and mine together. Keep the change.” I started to protest. “No, I can’t let you—”
“I’ll help you to your car,” he said. It wasn’t a question. I should have been scared. I should have said no. But Anna had stopped crying. She was staring at him with big eyes. Ethan had stopped throwing his dog.
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