Lines We Cross
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**Content warning: Immigration rights**
Joshua turned off the car radio and leaned back in his seat. His senses were alert, tuned to the daily news about the plight of migrants at the United States–Mexico border. A male voice reported the latest separations of families caught in the crackdown.
The weight of the world pressed on Joshua; only God knew what awaited him ahead. He checked his phone for messages from Mina, his fiancée.
His eyes traveled from his phone screen upwards to the sky stretched beyond his sight. Heaven was somewhere up there — he knew it. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment as he prayed and fought back tears.
“Please, God. Help me find my mother and brother. Are they in the detention center at the Mexican border? Or did they escape I.C.E. somehow?”
But before he could search for them, there was another obstacle. His eyes flicked between the street and the digital clock on the dashboard. Any police?
Thankfully, none were in sight.
Arizona City had been his home for the past two years, in a rundown house shared with six others. He had come to the U.S. from Mexico hoping for a better life. Everything had been fine — until the new administration took office. Every passing second felt like a ticking bomb, each one reminding him that authorities were harsh on those who entered illegally.
Joshua remembered his mother’s fear when she tried to join him before the border wall went up. Instead, she and his little brother had landed in detention. He sighed, the memory heavy on his chest. The radio rattled on, reporting the rising costs of living and the government crackdowns, as if mocking the struggles of families like his.
Everyone here is an immigrant! Joshua ranted. His thoughts raced away with him in what felt like a million directions in his desire for justice, safety, and hope for all people here in this place he called home.
Mina’s call had not come yet. She, too, was an immigrant. Her parents ran a Pakistani restaurant in town, and the new policies had shaken their lives as well.
He recalled their first meeting four months ago on a downtown bus. He sat next to Mina, which gave them a chance to talk, and this sparked something between them — love at first conversation. Both came from big families, and both were in their twenties.
They had other similarities as well, including their looks: Both had dark eyes, tan complexions, and black hair. They looked like soul mates as much as they felt that connection. Mina was the most loving soul he had ever met.
And now, life threatened to rip them apart. Joshua muttered to the silent radio, “Why does life keep testing us over and over, piling on more than I can take?”
***
The sudden ring of his phone startled him awake. He must have dozed off with his head resting against the steering wheel.
“Hello, Mina?” he said, voice tight.
“Joshua, the news isn’t good,” Mina’s voice trembled. “Baba got the notice. He must return to Bangladesh — or face arrest and deportation. Or worse.”
“What?” Joshua gasped. “How do families get so scattered? We’re like dandelion seeds floating on the wind.”
“There’s no time,” Mina said quickly. “You and I — we can go to Mexico. Baba asked if we could try crossing the border together. I can say I am your wife. He gave me money to pay at the border.”
Joshua’s mind raced. He had crossed the Mexican border to live in the U.S., and now life was forcing him to return against his will. He said aloud, “Get ready. I’m on my way.”
He drove carefully, eyes darting from road to alley to parking lot as he looked for police cars or anything resembling I.C.E., each second laden with tension. As he neared Mina’s house, he called her.
“I’m five minutes away. Grab your passport and other important papers.”
When Joshua arrived, Mina kissed her parents, fighting back tears.
“Why such a big bag, dear?” her mother asked.
“Overnight clothes,” Mina said. “I’ll be staying with a colleague tonight.” She didn’t want to lie, but felt she had no choice. Hugging her father, she sensed the urgency of the moment in his tight embrace and gentle nod. After one last look at her small, loving home, she stepped out onto the street.
Climbing into Joshua’s car, she whispered, “We’re taking a leap into faith. Our love will carry us. All the way to Mexico.”
Joshua pressed the gas pedal, the engine’s hum echoing her words. Finally, they were on the road to freedom, hearts pounding with hope and fear.
And somewhere in the back of their minds, one thought remained: Keep praying the police don’t find us.
Looking for more thought-provoking stories? Check these out:
- Light Hues of the Soul – a Short Story
- The Girl in the Sand – an Allegory
- Thank You God, I’m Leaving Here – Personal Essay
Tulip Chowdhury
As a contributing writer for The MockingOwl Roost, Tulip Chowdhury’s writing explores life from the trivial to the pivotal, blending the visible with the invisible — like a kaleidoscope. Her favorite leisure activities are reading, listening to music, swimming, and walking in the woods. She lives in Georgia, USA.
