Page 10 of Queen’s Gambit

“Do you think he knows about us?”

“Maybe, but he should be happy. Your father is a powerful man.”

“It’s not enough. I’m not Russian.”

“Eddie….”

“No, it’s fine, Ana. I know how your father feels. No matter what he or my father says, it’s unlikely they’ll arrange a marriage for us.”

My heart sank. “We have to find a way,” I said as Eddie looked over his shoulder and laughed. Another guy came into view and waved.

“This is Marcus. He’s my best friend.”

“Hi, Marcus,” I said, waving.

“Hey, you really are as hot as Edmundo says.”

Eddie swiped at his friend. “Shut up, man. Listen, I’m heading to the movies with some friends, so I have to go. But I’ll call when I get home,” he said.

“Oh…that sounds like fun,” I said, forcing a smile.

“I wish you could come, Ana. I miss you.”

“Aww…you miss her…you’re so cute,” Marcus teased, making kissy noises in the background.

“Shut up,” Eddie growled and glared at his friend. “Sorry, but yeah, I better go.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I get it.”

“What are you doing for the night?”

Looking around my huge, empty room, I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“I have so many things planned that I don’t even know what to list first,” I said.

“Come on. We gotta go. Everyone is waiting for us,” Marcus said.

“You better go. I don’t want you to be late for the movie.” Eddie hesitated and then nodded. “I miss you too, Eddie. Bye.”

“I promise I’ll call. Bye, Ana.”

He hung up, and I stared at the blank screen as tears filled my eyes. I wasn’t angry that he was going out with friends. I was sad. My life was spent in this house. I was home-schooled and didn’t have any friends other than Frida. I’d never even stepped foot in a movie theater before, and other than the dinners I attended with my parents, I never left the grounds. These calls were the only thing in my week that I looked forward to—the only thing that made me feel like I was a normal teenager.

I flopped onto my side and stared at the wall. I wanted so badly to taste freedom—to run away and never come back. I loved my mother, but she was powerless against my father’s will, and all he wanted was to keep me locked away until he could marry me off to some man I would hate.

If it was the last thing I did, I needed to get out of this place and never come back.

Edmundo – Age 14

Marcus nudged my arm. “Hey, are you okay?”

I looked away from the window to my friend and nodded, but I was no longer interested in going to see the new action movie.

“I don’t believe you. Is this because of Ana?”

Looking toward the driver, I shook my head, hoping that Marcus would get the message and stop asking.

“Who’s coming tonight,” I asked.