Oh, I didn't leave the hotel alone. Lucero made sure I got in a taxi and that this was going to be the last time I did the crazy thing of leaving her side. She didn't come with me because I told her I needed to say goodbye to the two women who opened their home and heart to me. I owe them the truth and to face them, I need to tell them that I have to leave, that I planned to stay here for a while, but after talking to Lucero's parents, there was no doubt in my mind that my path is to leave, prepare myself, and be someone for my baby. I don't want him to lack anything. I hope they understand that I have to seek improvement and stability, as if I stay, I run the risk of being fired and Adal showing up with a letter I wasn't expecting. Taking the baby away to hurt me, it all sounds so crazy, but as it could be true, it could also be a lie. What I can't do is sit still; I have to get off the unexpected path. "Thank you very much," I get out of the car, with no intention of paying. The h
+ Uuufff… I confessed and feel a huge relief in my heart. I joined her for the sleepover, and things ended up taking a different turn. I started with the reason I came to Spain, as I couldn't tell them from the moment I was born. She needs to process things a bit. They were surprised to hear from my own mouth that my husband left me for getting pregnant and that my friend Lucero is the one who has been helping me. I think as they processed all the information, they reacted and asked if I have a baby inside of me. They pointed to my flat belly, and I nodded at the same time as feeling a knot in my throat. I apologized for deceiving them, for hiding my pregnancy, and I excused myself for the need to get a job, for everything that was overwhelming me and getting out of my hands. It was clear that if they had found out about my pregnancy, I would never have gotten the job. We spent a couple of hours talking about how lucky I am to have them, that God has made sure that both of them had
"It's goodbye, I don't know when you'll leave," Dolores replied as she served herself coffee. "I waited for you to leave the room to apologize. Yesterday, I behaved like an immature and crazy person. I woke up without any explanation. But now that we're having breakfast together, I want to thank you for your intentions and those of Maria." "Dolores, remember what we were talking about. It's not that I'm interested in the money, but Gisela wants to do a good deed. She is aware of the persistent calls you receive from the bank and what they will take from you if you don't cancel as soon as possible. Please don't say that you will pay with the little you earn from that store." Those words hurt, especially Dolores' ego. She is desperate and doesn't want help. "Maria, can you tell me what they want to take from her? She doesn't want to be helped, and I understand that I am a complete stranger. That's why I came up with the great idea of giving you the money, and you can be the person who
"Why do you pour salt on the wound?" I asked with great intrigue, leaning forward under my leg to rest my arms on the desk. "It's impossible to stumble over the same stone again, but thank you for being the good Samaritan I've always hoped for." The tone of my sarcasm is through the roof. He's treating me like the man who hasn't broken a plate, while I attack every word that comes out of his mouth. "Why do you want a divorce?" Hey, who is this man! No, I can't contain myself any longer. He's mocking me and I won't allow it. Does he suffer from some illness? "You're an idiot, stop playing and tell me what you want," I spit out everything I feel, slapping the desk. "Last time, tell me what you want." "I'm still in trouble, I wanted to see you to..." "To see if you made a mistake or not. Too bad to disappoint you, but you can go back where you came from. No need to say another word, man of few words, good listener." I stand up from the chair. I have nothing to do here. I'm hurtin
+ The hours I've spent at the clinic have made exhaustion take over my life, but little by little, I've regained my voice. Gisela's parents have taken the liberty of paying for the clinic and taking me to a hotel I don't want to enter, but I can't be rude and reject all the good they have done. It's hard to process the idea that I have a baby inside me, one that feels what I feel, a baby that needs me to be strong and not fall apart when that damn jerk shows up in front of me. I don't want to see him, I don't want to allow him to humiliate me, I can't let him trample on me. Adal hurt me, and for many, it's a drama that I should forget, but those who think that have surely not been in my shoes. Heavens, that scene keeps playing in my head over and over again, sometimes I wish there was some remedy to forget it. Lucero is right in saying that this baby will always remind me of what his father did to me, but... I am not heartless enough to give it up for adoption or have an abortion
+ It's already dawn and from the brightness I can deduce that it's five in the morning and... I haven't slept at all! I've just been admiring the woman next to me, yes, the one who's using my arm as her soft and comfortable pillow. She's a feisty one, but since she'll be leaving in a couple of hours, I have no choice but to endure the discomfort for a little while longer. I spent two hours pleading with her to calm down, assuring her that she wasn't going to die just because she was traveling and that it would be better for us to set aside our sadness and enjoy the night. She wasn't very convinced, but eventually agreed because she says I'm the type of person who doesn't give up until I get what I want, and that's true because I want her to leave with the peace her heart needs. It's clear to me that she has to give something to get what she wants. My temporary job is to encourage her, which I do gladly, although I wish she would stay, it's better that she goes. I won't deny that t
"Adal, may I know why you haven't taken off that serious men's clothing? You have to wear appropriate clothing to enter the pool." I snap out of my thoughts at the sound of my grandmother's bustling voice. She continues trying to help me, wanting me to see reason and stay with the family to witness all that I am missing. "Grandma, don't ask for too much. This is what you can expect from me," I run my hand through my hair and she smiles. "But I don't see a problem with me dressing like this." "No, let's go to your room and while you're at it, lend some clothes to Alfonso. I don't want to see both of you looking like clowns, with your clothing out of place." "Mum, before you take the two little ones to the room, I want you to come with me because our friend Ana wants to come," and boom, my mother has saved me from my grandmother's clutches. "I'll wait here, Grandma," I say in a joking tone. "No, both of us need to go because I need you to choose the right swimsuit, and you can tal
Now that I remember, Alfonso knows a part of why I went to Spain, but not with the intention of exposing the girl he is in love with. I feel sorry for him, but he has to know, and I won't stay silent. Everyone blames me for being a coward and immature for not wanting to continue with the marriage, fine. I look away and tell him that the love of his life is not what he thinks, as she made sure Gisela didn't take her birth control pills and that's why she got pregnant. He burst out laughing and told me that this lie won't make him stop loving her. I knew he would say that! Well, that's when I reveal my ace in the hole, telling him to confront Lucero and that the pill incident was true, and that the person who told me wasn't a stranger and certainly didn't make it up. I started telling him how I found out and how things were unfolding. I didn't want to believe it either, and that's why I got on the first plane. "The worst part is that I saw Gisela and didn't have the guts to tell her