p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bfb5a667ea2cb68f3036439fab8e8735"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"AN: Just a heads up, this chapter is entirely in Spanish. And no, I don't speak Spanish, so I'm sorry if the translation makes you cringe. *cringes* If you are like me, and you don't know Spanish either, have no fear. I've put the English translation next to each sentence. Bon apetite, lovely people./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="df9833fc97003e36c96ceec159a94203"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"AND IF YOU ARE EXTREMELY CONFUSED, THIS PROLOGUE IS JUST ABOUT /spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"ROCHELLE'S CHILDHOOD/em/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;", SO DON'T WORRY:) I'LL ADVISE YOU NOT TO SKIP THIS CHAPTER./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="56b4ce0f94564b3814ee9722e46dfe01"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"ROCHELLE IS PRONOUNCED AS ROSH-EL/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8a7ab20ec0ab3262ce329c7dcb399a4e"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"***/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a1804dbfe2d95fa7bb07db16533be517"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"|| MADRID, SPAIN 1988 ||/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5f669d4888255cd0c77026dbe2a7182b"Santiago Valdez was more handsome than Momia had described. He was tall and dark and Rochelle had never seen such a beautiful man before. None of the fathers she had seen compared to him. Even with his old, worn leather jacket, and his dark hair wet with perspiration, Rochelle still thought he looked like a prince./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="772e4fc48c0f45c0428655368d5e7165"Excitement rushed through the young girl; she was finally meeting him!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eb2863f3f6144e59f19696c8b85de2dc"Her brown eyes eagerly looked up to her father, seeking to have his attention. At last, he looked down from his motor bike, and her father's dark gaze collided with hers./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="951d2d3d1246842c46adbe77710d04c2"But it was not in the way she expected./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ed88bca5e5e007abe72b3e91b8c56724"His eyes turned from solemness to fierce anger in a matter of seconds./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6e2f6b430737a5f8ca2a95db5446a660"Rochelle's heart dropped. She was scared. Why was Papi upset at her? What had she done wrong? She turned her head around to look at her mother, who was standing behind her with her hands placed gently on her shoulders./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f02163f6cf8ff8009adb0b1772a3a4c7""No es hermosa, Santiago?"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Isn't she beautiful? /emMomia said. Her voice sounded strange...like she was choking. "No es la nina mas hermosa que hayas visto?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Isn't she the most beautiful little girl you've ever seen?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="24c6a8b0a4fb8cabad27b40b02f4ab15"His mouth curved into disgust, and looking into his eyes she regretted presenting Rochelle in front of him. Papi didn't look happy. He looked angry./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="04e113f28013fd483825781e3bfe8e86""Solo unos pocos minutos." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Just a few minutes./em Momia said quickly. Too quickly. Was she afraid? But why?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="da3bc73546379784aa31b0362d5f659b""Has hecho esto a proposito, Alejandra? Pensaste que su puesta en ese vestido que resaltar el color de sus ojos?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Did you do this on purpose, Alejandra? Did you think that her putting on that dress would bring out the colour in her eyes?/em His words startled Rochelle. They were cold and angry./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="77243d15de6c38c1e5b39eb8293928e8"She looked at her mother and immediately wished she hadn't. Momia's face was filled with hurt. Perhaps Papi didn't like the way she dressed herself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="395d39186a37ba9219cafe5cb00b6736"Determined to gain her father's love, she made a note to herself to thank him for the gifts he had sent her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="532706c367f44fe523ddd7feb01d3bb1"Gaining courage, she stepped forward, tugging on her father's coat./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7b11048c3679883e96e3d6ca3b7b70d""Papi..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0f1486a441dcf3d22a3aa39587b09b82""No me llames asi!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Do not call me that!/em Santiago snapped, his eyes burning with rage. She blinked, frightened by his demeanour. She didn't understand. He was her Papi, wasn't he? At least, Momia said so.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="09753dcfd2e235a3dcbfaa356d807f8b""Qierio darle las gracias por los regalos tu-" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I want to thank you for the presents you-/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="31a76bafff8f2d754842cd593945d578""Silencio Rochelle." Alejandra said quickly. "Ahora no querida." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Not now darling./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="299507467ed8f6bb82f55a284f752de7"Santiago flashed her mother a silencing look. "Dejala hablar. Es lo que querias, no era? Por que su silenciamiento ahora, Alejandra?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Let her speak. It is what you wanted, was it not? Why are you silencing her now, Alejandra?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="86cd81515243b26acc954e6bea02dc5e"Momia stepped closer towards Rochelle, her hand trembling. But father bent down towards her, smiling. "Lo presenta?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What presents?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1b3b45e1e113ce458055caf442f8c9c4"He was so handsome. Rochelle was proud to have a Papi like him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7f79f66b8fa17455ecb1694550ea2174""Dime, pequeña." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Tell me, little one/em./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="15a26962492fe699d89f79268d306a04""Siempre me gusta las pulseras que me traen." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I always like the bracelets you bring me/em. Rochelle smiled, feeling proud beneath his attention. "Son muy bonita. Pero lo mejor do todo, me encanta el ángel de cristal." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They are very pretty. But best of everything, I love the crystal angel. /emShe glowed with joy when Papi listened to her carefully. And he smiled. Though it wasn't a friendly smile. It was tight./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2f699cd06d4391a27eeb2575d57d4691"He straightened and looked at Momia. "Es bueno saber cuanto significan mis regalos."em style="box-sizing: border-box;" It is nice to know how much my gifts mean./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="97c02d4248b5148768033b511269eca4"Then he gave a cold glare to Momia, one that sent shivers down Rochelle's spine./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e25415c0ae1382396338d9cb0fe1ac1c""Asi que pase mis regalos para le nino," em style="box-sizing: border-box;"So you pass my gifts to the child,/em Papi said. "Es bueno saber lo que significan para ti."em style="box-sizing: border-box;" It's good to know what they mean to you./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="24336954025df5ac32b0fda8c052207f"Momia bit her lip in fear, and touched Rochelle's shoulder gently. "Carino, se buena chica y vaya dentro y jugar ahora." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Darling, be a good girl and go inside and play now./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1e5daf36523a090f83f5a4b9c4e509b0"Rochelle looked up, distressed and upset. What had she done wrong?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2a8e1d70d8260d85e6a8f683612f50f5""No puedo quedarme? Te prometo que estare tranquila." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Can't I stay? I promise I'll be quiet./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="448b4b2acb0396c47f3e4ce967da906b"Momia couldn't seem to make out her words; she couldn't speak. Her eyes were very moist and she looked at Santiago./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="27b0ef639e66ad2ab2d203a381831a23"He answered for her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cd4718d6ea1c3e32e9f82081d64ba024""Entra y jugar." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Go inside and play./emHe said calmly, a sheer contrast to the coldness before. "Quiero hablar con su Momia solo." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I want to talk to your Momia alone./emHe smiled and patted her cheek./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6d25e237d7786009afd3018cd63ee5b8"Rochelle smiled, utterly enchanted. Papi wasn't angry at all! He loved her! Just as mother said!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d36504d5323f81f39ca496e88af1d07a""Ahora corre a lo largo de." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Now run along. /emHe straightened stiffly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c6aa6c7cd9f1c517acfcf992f233f9e7"Rochelle nodded in obedience, and skipped happily around the side gate of the cottage, she picked a few daisies that lay in the grass, and sat near the corner, not wanting to disturb them, but wanting to be near them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9a4cd63f6a15fb638f6de8b27b81225a""El me quiere... no me quiere... me quiere... no me quiere..."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He loves me...he loves me not...he loves me...he loves me not.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="85774b9962997c56a2097361a9f17aba"Rochelle daydreamed contently. Maybe one day Papi would take her for a ride on his big, black motorbike. She wished he had let her sit on his lap while he was talking to Momia. She wouldn't have been noisy. She would have been no bother./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="de816253446b4f8bd28e5963cc9fa9df"She could hear distant voices around the corner, as she was not far away. Rochelle took a deep breath of the flowers around her. Her Momia loved gardening. She loved planting roses./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3b22eb3ec22685b26a1e829451dcee19""Que ida a hacer, Santiago? Usted nunca ha pasado mas de un minuto con ella. Que iba a decir? Que iba a decirle? Su Papi no le importa? Que el desea que ella nunca fueron a nacer?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What was I to do, Santiago? You've never spent more than a minute with her. What was I to say? What was I to tell her? Her Papi doesn't care? That he wishes she were never to be born?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6428a5e5332356d3084094108cf52e12"Rochelle's lips parted, overhearing the conversation. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Deny it, Papi! Deny it! It's not true!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6a99cd0b1306a3197d862e528a587724""He traído ese ángel do vuelta de América por ti, y te arrojo a la basura a un nino que no tiene el cuidado de su valor. Le da las perlas también? Que pasa con el collar de diamantes? Supongo que tiene que, también!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I brought that angel back from America for you, and you throw it away to a child who has no care for its worth. Did you give her the pearls as well? What about the diamond necklace? I suppose she got that, too!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="43627ad9ddae66304c324a51826708a3"The daises fluttered from Rochelle's hand. She sat on the ground, careless of her pretty dress. Her heart slowed from it's excited beat. Everything inside of her seemed to spiral downward with each word./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="95de2551581eb1452bb20f80c7d2f58c""Santiago, por favor. Yo no veo nada malo an ello. Ni siquiera la conoces. Ella es una nina hermosa. Ella es como usted de muchas maneras. Ella es una persona, de Santiago. No se puede ignorar su existencia para siempre. Ella es su hija..."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Santiago, please. I didn't see any harm in it. You don't even know her. She is a beautiful child. She's quick and charming and isn't afraid of anything. She is like you in many ways. She's someone, Santiago. You cannot ignore her existence forever. She's your daughter.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="192b2b302af22ee3be3ac4301e2f6681""Mo tengo suficientes hijos por mi esposa. Los hijos por mi esposa. Los hijos legítimos. Te dije que no quería otra." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I have enough children by my wife. Legitimate children. I told you I didn't want another./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="dc2c910125e2353e599fc06da167d2fc""Como puedes decir eso? Como no puedes amar a tu propia carne y sangre?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"How can you say that? How can you not love your own flesh and blood?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="74dfa66a5f90341b52986b7f6911709b""Te dije lo que sentía desde el principio, pero no quiso escucharme. Ella nunca debería haber nacido, Alejandra. Pero usted asistido en tener su propio camino." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I told you how I felt from the beginning, but you wouldn't listen. She should never have been born, Alejandra. But you insisted on having your own way./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e8a4ff211c1d28b3e58b1dd76329d33c""Crees que quería quedar embarazada? Cree usted que yo planeaba? Cree usted que yo planeaba tener ella?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Do you think I wanted to get pregnant? Do you think I planned to have her?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="382ac3ecd12a8fb01881ba676e4ed1c0""Muchas veces me he preguntado. Sobre todo cuando me organizo una salida a la situación pere usted y usted se negó. El medico que le envié a habría hecho cargo do todo el lió. El habría librado -"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I've often wondered. Especially when I arranged a way out of the situation for you and you refused. The doctor I sent you to would have taken care of the whole mess. He would've gotten rid -/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="556d682c178ab2eb242c9edc1511040c""No pude hacerlo. Como puedes esperar que mate a mi hijo por nacer? No lo entiendes?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I could not do it. How could you expect me to kill my unborn child? Don't you understand?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b5821f63d4a332b6cea94e76dd902295""Alguna vez has pensado que no tendría los problemas que usted hace ahora si habría conseguido librarse de ella de la manera que te dije! Hubiera sido fácil, pero se acabo." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Have you ever thought that you wouldn't have the problems you do now if you had gotten rid of her the way I told you! It would have been easy, but you ran out./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4795752c963323da69b1aabe00313f8d""Yo quería que ella!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I wanted her! /emMomia said brokenly. "Ella era, aparte de ti, Santiago, y parte de mi. Yo quería que ella incluso si no lo hizo..." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"She was apart of you, Santiago, and part of me. I wanted her even if you didn't.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7d2b4ee08345cd27d5736eaeb47aba94""Esa es la verdadera razón?"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Is that the real reason?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="079fad4b8e93711299980eef41c15abb""Me estas haciendo dano Santiago!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You're hurting me Santiago!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7ed4ff4983b115e9b38f17feedf03cd0"Rochelle flinched as something shattered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="509bc91cdf005f4e91803a2115e0964c""Eso es la verdadera razón, Alejandra? O usted tiene su porque que lleva mi hijo le daría usted sostiene sobre mi os faltaba otra cosa?!"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Is that the real reason, Alejandra? Or did you have her because you thought bearing my child would give you hold over me you otherwise lacked?!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b3118e269763ea707762f23c3eee99a9""No puedes creer eso!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You can't believe that!/em Momia was crying now. "Tu lo haces. No crees? Usted es un idiota, de Santiago. Oh, que he hecho? Le di todo por ti! Mi familia, mis amigos, mi amo propio. Todo lo que yo creía en, todo lo que tenia esperanza en..." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You do. Don't you? You are an idiot, Santiago. Oh, what have I done? I gave up everything for you! My family, my friends, my self-respect. Everything I believed in, everything I had hope in.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cfbf72a6c094f70ce12482031d047953""Proporione un hogar para usted. Te doy todo lo que pueda necesitar." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I provided a home for you. I give you all the things you could possibly need./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8743cb9bc20918f2378c3c20860d0d3c"Momia's voice rose strangely. "Sabes lo que es para mi caminar por la ciudad? Usted entrar y salir cuando te plazca. Ellos saben quienes son, y saben quien soy. Nadie me mira. Nadie me habla. Rochelle siente tambien. Ella me pregunto acerca de una vez, y yo le dije que éramos diferentes de otras personas. Yo no sabía qué más decir." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Do you know what it's like for me to walk through town? You come and go as you please. They know who you are, and they know who I am. No one looks at me. No one speaks to me. Rochelle feels it too. She asked me about it once, and I told her we were different from other people. I didn't know what else to say./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a69ad63157b5d0494e2faff2a02838bf"Her voice broke. "He hecho tanto mal, me merezco el dolor..." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I have done so much wrong, I deserve pain.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7495d405c0f661fe496791cd7f525c4b""Estoy harto de su culpa y estoy harto de oír hablar de ese niño. Ella está arruinando todo entre nosotros. Te acuerdas de lo felices que éramos? Nunca discutimos . No podía esperar para ir a vosotros, para estar con ustedes." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'm sick of your guilt and I'm sick of hearing about that child. She's ruining everything between us. Do you remember how happy we were? We never argued. I couldn't wait to come to you, to be with you./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1441dfcb5b4ce16b327ac964173258fd""No lo hagas -" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Don't -/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="83f046d90c4ddc0c637c87225a9e1e90""Y cuánto tiempo me queda con ustedes hoy ? Suficiente? Usted ha utilizado para arriba en ella. Te dije lo que iba a pasar, no? Ojalá nunca había de nacer!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"And how much time do I have left with you today? Enough? You've used it up on her. I told you what would happen, didn't I? I wish she had never of been born!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="98b55265a404657d4ef236e4da200ced"Momia cried out a terrible name. There was a crash./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="61c225b7f8e4de660e630c76a9e910b2"Terrified, Rochelle got up and ran. She raced through Momia's flowers and into the field behind the cottage. She ran until she couldn't run anymore./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1d197bc8b783f7b45ba3cf021723d799"Gasping, her sides burning, she dropped into the rushes, her shoulders heaving with sobs, her face streaked with tears. She heard a engine coming towards her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2c876f450f157684343d8227c29efb9c"Scrambling for a better hiding place behind a tree nearby, she peered out and saw her Papi ride by on his motorbike. Ducking down, she huddled there, crying, and waited for Momia to come fetch her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f708d75c814a6e25929f65e249c5decd"But Momia didn't come and she didn't call. After a while, Rochelle wandered back to the cottage and sat by the rosh bushes and waited longer. By the time Momia came, Rochelle had dried her tears and dusted off her green dress./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="69840804654a21b591d8c4c7b7b8112f"She was still shaking from what she had heard./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="455703987eaf134afe65be4caa8961ce"Momia was very pale, her eyes dull and red rimmed. There was a blue mark on the side of her face. She had tried to cover it with powder. She smiled, but it wasn't like her usual smile./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="571c7155403ea4c40a35d7c09f44916d""Dónde has estado , cariño? He estado buscando por todas partes para usted." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Where have you been, darling? I've been looking everywhere for you./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3881f9844a3ffe7f251c403e64ecd8b3"Rochelle knew she hadn't. She had been waiting for her. Momia licked her lacy handkerchief and wiped a smudge from Rochelle's cheek./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="db4e19120774f27240336ac412aca154""Tu Papi fue llamado repentinamente por negocios." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Your Papi was called away suddenly on business./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bee0f16f32dad2e93a2f0b721ce16dff""Está a volver ?"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Is he coming back? /emRochelle was afraid. She never wanted to see him again. He had hurt Momia and made her cry./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="38f01d14038e32cefa77372b6b0bb3c3""Tal vez no durante mucho tiempo . Sólo tendremos que esperar y ver. Él es una persona muy importante." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Maybe not for a long time. We'll just wait and see. He's a very important person. /emRochelle said nothing, and her mother lifted her and hugged her close./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e0484dfa33b0d32c70609c797fd9d48e""Está bien, cariño. Sabes lo que vamos a hacer? Vamos a volver a entrar y limpiar. Entonces vamos a hacer un picnic y nos vamos hacia el río. Te gustaría eso?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"It's alright, sweetheart. You know what we're going to do? We're going to go back inside and clean up. Then we'll pack a picnic and go down to the river. Would you like that?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="66e9f294d35e7493c418df63e2810a3c"Rochelle nodded and put her arms around mother's neck. Her mouth trembled, and she tried not to cry. br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /If she cried, Momia might guess she had been eavesdropping and then she would be angry, too./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ab66e0ea362e9ac3f0ee4094e14dac6f"Momia held her tightly, her face buried in Rochelle's hair. "Lo haremos a través de este. Verás, mi amor. Lo haremos. Lo haremos." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"We'll make it through this. You'll see, sweetheart. We will. We will./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="66f5bb4c16beb0dd21896047ccdb8d9d"***/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bffe98f0f1dcb9fcce7f4a7e4aa415e9"Santiago Valdez didn't come back, and Momia grew thin and wan. She stayed in bed too late, and when she got up, she didn't want to go for long walks like she used to. When she smiled, her eyes didn't light up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="01bf8fefced5ca137dd8dc7f5f95b564"Rochelle tried to cheer up Momia by picking her bunches of flowers. br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /She found pretty stones and washed them, giving them to her as presents./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="88e2c45fc425b151ae7dd3093728114e"Momia always smiled and said thankyou, but there was no sparkle in her eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9b0ea2aaaac39a4f15fe609c87c9c1d4"Rochelle sang the folk-songs Momia had taught her; a few traditional songs and a few nursery rhymes she used to listen to at night./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f8575f7bd11b864db5521e8315c2fbbd""Momia, por qué no cantar más ?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Momia, why don't you sing anymore? /emRochelle once asked, climbing up onto the bed with her and setting her doll in the rumpled covers. "Te sentirás mejor si cantas." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You'll feel better if you sing./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0848f9a9ac79d4c47861615f3102a14f"Momia brushed her long, wavy ebony hair slowly. "Yo no tengo ganas de cantar, querida. Momia tiene un montón de cosas en su mente en este momento." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I don't feel like singing, darling. Momia has a lot of things on her mind right now./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a2db26a84427f1042ca3a47b39ffec8e"Rochelle felt a heaviness growing inside of her. It was all her fault. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"All/em her fault. If she hadn't been born, Momia would be happy./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c2f9f2db74688b81ddcaaf47058bbbb4""Será Santiago volver, Momia?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Will Santiago come back, Momia?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0de9bf7cc2acd2bca1e95fca770de4a1"Momia looked at her, but Rochelle didn't care. She wouldn't call him Papi anymore. He had hurt Momia and made her upset. Ever since he'd left, Momia had scarcely paid any attention to her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7c371cbdc64f4ffb022ee0524b654f4c"Rochelle glanced at Momia's face, and her heart sank. She looked so sad. Her thoughts were far away again, and Rochelle knew she was thinking of him. Momia wanted him to come back. Momia cried at night because he didn't. Momia pressed her face into her pillow at night, but Rochelle still heard her sobs./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="42b274b46dec9c263b5f9c59e9429410"She chewed on her lip and lowered her head, playing distractedly with her doll. "Qué pasa si me enfermé y murió, Momia?"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What if I got sick and died, Momia?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0129a94261ea923de1b184f561410593""Usted no se enferman," em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You wouldn't get sick,/emMomia said, glancing at her. She smiled. "Eres demasiado joven y saludable a morir."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You are far too young and healthy to die./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3526f64170a0ea0625e65a862987e729"Rochelle watched her brushing her hair. It was like a flowing waterfall, thick and wavy. Momia was so pretty. How could Santiago not love her?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e2c739b29b5abb34a744e9f53f108d87""Pero si lo hiciera, Momia , iba a volver y quedarme contigo?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"But if I did, Momia, would he come back and stay with you?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5d3af30793e3ef704e39f78cb71d466f"Momia went very still. She turned and stared at Rochelle, and the horrified look in her eyes frightened her. She shouldn't of said that. Now Momia might guess she'd heard them fighting.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="04093da29e6e60ca01f9927f2c5d3ce7""No pienses nunca que, Rochelle." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Don't ever think that, Rochelle./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d07749b642280d4934840586231cc6f6""Pero -" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"But -/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="979991f6134673631344510368731566""No! No te has preguntado alguna vez esa pregunta de nuevo. Lo entiendes?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"No! Don't you ever ask such a question again. Do you understand?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7ae21438979b74c327ea3cb21d21de9e"Momia had never raised her voice before, and Rochelle felt her chin quiver./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="26d979d5f59e0c0406b49bc695cb1499""Sí, Momia." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Yes, Momia./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d940d7be4d2e8baa456a326821e0a9dd""Nunca más," em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Never again,/emMomia said more gently. "Prométeme. Nada de esto tiene algo que ver con usted, Rochelle." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Promise me. None of this has anything to do with you, Rochelle./emMomia reached out to pull her into her arms and stroke her tenderly. "Te quiero, Rochelle. Te amo demasiado. Te quiero más que a nada ni a nadie en el mundo entero."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I love you, Rochelle. I love you so much. I love you more than anything or anyone in the whole world./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c4abb9bee0849796746e4ddb5a4fe3d0"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Except for him,/em Rochelle thought. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Except for Santiago Valdez./em What if he came back? What if he made Momia choose? What would Momia do then?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0c5a71622661d38ff693f0b49da236ba"***/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ab993e6409a64ded1d69c8861d9f95fd"Soon Santiago Valdez stopped sending them money for provisions. One morning, when Rochelle woke up and walked into the lounge room, she found boxes everywhere, and Momia was packing her things./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="08897466ad88548d8a8f14e444e440bc""Vamos a visitar a su grandmomia y grandisonar." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"We are going to visit your grandmother and grandfather./emMomia said brightly, but her eyes looked dull and dead. "Ellos nunca te han visto." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They've never seen you./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bc1a58a0a24baed5259fd85e7e27892b"Rochelle woke up in the middle of the night. Momia wasn't in the bed, but Rochelle could hear her. She followed the sound of her Momia's stricken voice and went into the back room facing the garden. The window was open, and she went to look out./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0ebb70dc28d2587cbca8bab53f8a8e60"What was Momia doing in the middle of the night?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9f6dc9e2ef7e73a96b529d9696c2acdd"Moonlight flowed over the flower garden and Rochelle saw her kneeling in her thin, silk nightdress. She was ripping all the flowers out./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a3beda85ae372182e981c2fcf53e2e59"Handful after handful, she yanked the plants up and flung them in all directions, weeping and talking to herself as she did. She picked up a knife and came to her feet. She went down again on her knees beside her beloved rose bushes. One after another, she cut the roots. Every last one of them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="19918e6cd84f0451663a871dea8faaf6"Then she bent forward and sobbed, "He hecho esto a mí mismo. He hecho esto a mí mismo. Mea culpa, mea culpa...em style="box-sizing: border-box;"" I've done this to myself. I've done this to myself. Mea culpa, mea culpa... /emShe whispered, rocking herself back and forth, back and forth, the knife still in her hand./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="65d6584d9b60ea43c46ddc7244608981"Rochelle sank down onto the floor inside and hid in the darkness of the corner, her hands covering her ears./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="22e3d0d541f837edddb2f72a3b9c2833"She didn't want to hear the sobbing of her Momia./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="99ff9ddc7c2b929618345b5bdbe0810d"***/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="046ac7463df26a772360209a631802d9"The next day, Rochelle and her Momia drove together in Momia's car. They travelled the long journey to her grandparent's home in Valencia./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6675e64298535919149a7300e8ac93bb"Momia hoped that her parents would forgive her, and let both of them stay. She pleaded and begged on her knees with desperation at their doorstep./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e8d1bad91cc482c51b41ee0b7a965c3e"But with disgust and repulsiveness, they kicked her out, not listening to anything Momia would try to say./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="098eec7ab56789adf2140f2ff43f3a75"Momia sold her pearl necklaces and jewelry. She and Rochelle lived in a nearby hotel until the money gave out. Momia sold her expensive diamond ring, and for a while they lived quite comfortably in an inexpensive boarding inn./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="024671182ef63b1170b85d1d09124d16"Finally, she asked Rochelle to give back the crystal angel, and with the money they got for it, Momia and Rochelle travelled back to Madrid and settled for good in a rundown shack./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="57fa960c526193256d7118ac52c8be53"Rochelle finally saw the Manzanares river. It had garbage floating through it. But she liked it very much./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="47eeea115190b20e850b757695c42fae"There were rough men at the docks who came from around the country./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="939bed3697ff0ebadd230d0bd2834cff"Some came to visit, and Momia would ask Rochelle to wait outside until they left. They never stayed very long. Sometimes they would pinch her cheeks and tell her they would come back when she was older. Some said she was prettier than Momia, but Rochelle knew that wasn't true./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="00663e2ff1229423084afc7424cc692b"Then Uncle Fernando came to live with them, and things got better. He was big and dumb, but Momia treated him with affection. They slept together in the bed by the window, and Rochelle had the cot on the floor./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b0714b10502102e17e87279ad1f1ca56"When it rained, Fernando would go to the pub down the road to be with his friends. Momia would drink and sleep./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ff3749bec04b45b44520cddb5cd11d22"To pass the time, Rochelle found tin cans and washed them, until they shone like silver. She set them beneath the roof leaks. Then she would sit in the quiet shack and listen to the music the drops made plinking into the tins./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="123e89f28dbaac22ed9c0db6d7d91805"Crying did no good. Momia cried and cried until Rochelle wanted to cover her ears and never hear her again. All Momia's crying never changed anything./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="577a8c49be399cfc0ed9905cb0b9e9a0"The winter Rochelle was eight, Momia and Fernando went away for a while. Momia said they would be back in two days, but they didn't come back until the next week./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ef0f8d22728dc8df2aa50b07853c77f1"When Fernando and Momia finally arrived, Rochelle was huddled by the fire with a thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her last can of beans was finished./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="851946d18238c3906a1c922539cbf85c"The knock on the door startled Rochelle, and she jumped up from the cold floor and ran to the door. After it swung open her heart jumped excitedly. Momia was here, and so was Fernando. A man stood behind them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="da98cea8bc5f1cee05fe88d81789b055""Rochelle," Momia opened her arms for a hug. Rochelle didn't hesitate, she loved the familiar smell of her Momia. They walked inside, Fernando and the stranger following behind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7e30d7f564b67fb5e6723c5977267d63"Momia sat Rochelle down onto the rug. "Tengo una buena noticia, querida. Este hombre le ha dado la oportunidad de vivir una vida mejor." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I've got good news, darling. This man has given you an opportunity to live a better life./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5f214519d2463d98375df26ad5a8e1fd"Rochelle blinked, confused, but backed away when the unknown man stepped towards her. She didn't like him. He reminded her of a snake./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c542ef5c0efd78c1a3f639e994a9f891"His beady eyes examined Rochelle from head to toe. "Hola, pequeña. Mi nombre es Wolfgang Von Strucker. Pero puedes llamarme tío Strucker." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Hello, little one. My name is Wolfgang Von Strucker. But you can call me Uncle Strucker. /emHe held a strange, foreign accent as he spoke. The man held out his hand towards Rochelle, but she shrinked away towards her Momia. She was scared./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="183b9964b39933cd7e32b870abbc734e"Momia placed her hand on Rochelle's shoulder, comforting her. "Está bien, Roch. Este hombre no te hará daño, él es rico y es dueño de un buen negocio." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"It's alright, Roch. This man won't hurt you, he's wealthy and owns a good business./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9850f8d68a3253dfe5e15dff59e3d85c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"So?/em Rochelle felt cornered. "Q-qué estás tratando de decir?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"W-what are you trying to say?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3964047ec59ba7b2469b382b5e402af9"'Uncle Strucker' leant down in front of the shivering girl and reached for her hand. He dug his other hand into his pant pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar. He placed it into her cold grasp. "Quiero adoptar, pequeña."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I want to adopt you, little one./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="683ee063c58f3504cad94aaa6a89ddff"Rochelle felt her chin wobble. She turned to her Momia in disbelief. Her Momia's expression said it all; the man was not joking./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a8b7f5d623cf1552714d3e54623dba84""Momia, no quiero dejarte. O bien, el tío Fernando." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Momia, I don't want to leave you. Or you, Uncle Fernando./emShe glanced between Momia and Fernando, who did not move from their seated positions. Her Momia's eyes were watery. Uncle Fernando was grim./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b45f58324f66be29cd9dd3a657f85869""No te preocupes , chico," em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Don't worry, kid. /emFernando said, "Voy a dejarte en su casa. Estarás bien." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'll drop you off at his house. You'll be fine./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9f5d5af107f06956ec9fde5df8b5b57d""Y me quedo con el buen cuidado de usted." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"And/em em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'll take good care of you. /emStrucker placed his hand into hers, and opened the door for her and Fernando. She dug in her heels, her eyes wide with panic. Surely Momia wasn't going to get rid of her so quickly, was she?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3d063f06e0a0c0edbc7b02c8900649a6""Momia!" She cried, turning her head around to her. "Por favor! Déjame quedarme! Voy a ganarme la vida, haré lo que sea!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Please! Let me stay! I'll earn my keep, I'll do anything! /emTears streamed down her face as her Momia stood by the door. Her back stiff, and her mouth pressed to a thin line./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="96d8016ab3817031a0990aad3db80380""Lo siento, cariño." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'm sorry, darling. /emHer voice broke and she choked on her tears. "Pero usted no merece vivir en este basurero más, que se merece una vida mejor y más feliz." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"But you don't deserve to live in this dump anymore, you deserve a better and much more happy life. /emThe young girl watched in shock and defeat as her beloved Momia waved her a small goodbye. Her heart went with Momia as she slammed the rickety door shut. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Slam. /emJust like that, her life had been shattered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f11875d5b3decea3eecc68e25211f7aa"Rochelle wailed in desperation as Strucker and Uncle Fernando forcefully dragged her away from the shack and into the crowded streets of Madrid. "Momia..." She choked on the salty, hot tears that streamed down her face. "Momia, no me dejes." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Momia, don't leave me./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="98638b6a1875dce3202ef2016dcd08fe"Uncle Strucker tugged on her fingers gently. "Va a estar bien, hijo. Va a servir a un propósito más grande que esto. " em style="box-sizing: border-box;"It's going to be okay, child. You will serve a greater purpose than this./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="aa9fac4c34f736beca239b45d3f97bdc"When she didn't stop crying, he bent down in front of her, and wiped her tears with his thumb. "Sabes lo que significa su nombre?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Do you know what your name means? /emHe didn't wait for her answer. "Significa 'pequeña roca.' Así que no llores, llanto no hará que su madre de vuelta. Sé fuerte como una roca." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"It means 'little rock.' So don't cry, crying will not get your mother back. Be strong like a rock./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3f11fb3d79190af983a03d7d790ae8ac"Rochelle didn't reply. She didn't know what to say. She felt numb, numb to the chill outside, and numb to the chill that was beginning to form inside of her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d9d24f4f940ac0c7c8affa15ead3bc8d"She was too young. The hard luck of life had hit her hard./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cd7ff695437021f3904c45af35aa938e"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"***/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="46fc568418994bc2b6d1913a7e5021ad"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"AUTHOR'S NOTE:/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="36f0b3146dc8fbb4c2d050e7d36187a3"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Ah, yes. I know you are most likely confused at this point, but have no fear. This is just a sneakpeek into Rochelle's backstory. She is Spanish, and she was 'adopted' by Strucker. That's all I'm giving you. In the next chapter we'll jump right the present day, and into a Captain America Civil War plot, it will all make sense soon./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4686c7153b7967c60d2f4c9c10b5f0b1"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Yours truly,/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2ed27db63838f377e7ddbfcaae32e066"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"-#FANGIRL/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="26478db11a74b3c8675f463fee30cba7" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="df9833fc97003e36c96ceec159a94203"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"AND IF YOU ARE EXTREMELY CONFUSED, THIS PROLOGUE IS JUST ABOUT /spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"ROCHELLE'S CHILDHOOD/em/spanspan style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;", SO DON'T WORRY:) I'LL ADVISE YOU NOT TO SKIP THIS CHAPTER./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="56b4ce0f94564b3814ee9722e46dfe01"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"ROCHELLE IS PRONOUNCED AS ROSH-EL/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8a7ab20ec0ab3262ce329c7dcb399a4e"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"***/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a1804dbfe2d95fa7bb07db16533be517"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"|| MADRID, SPAIN 1988 ||/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5f669d4888255cd0c77026dbe2a7182b"Santiago Valdez was more handsome than Momia had described. He was tall and dark and Rochelle had never seen such a beautiful man before. None of the fathers she had seen compared to him. Even with his old, worn leather jacket, and his dark hair wet with perspiration, Rochelle still thought he looked like a prince./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="772e4fc48c0f45c0428655368d5e7165"Excitement rushed through the young girl; she was finally meeting him!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eb2863f3f6144e59f19696c8b85de2dc"Her brown eyes eagerly looked up to her father, seeking to have his attention. At last, he looked down from his motor bike, and her father's dark gaze collided with hers./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="951d2d3d1246842c46adbe77710d04c2"But it was not in the way she expected./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ed88bca5e5e007abe72b3e91b8c56724"His eyes turned from solemness to fierce anger in a matter of seconds./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6e2f6b430737a5f8ca2a95db5446a660"Rochelle's heart dropped. She was scared. Why was Papi upset at her? What had she done wrong? She turned her head around to look at her mother, who was standing behind her with her hands placed gently on her shoulders./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f02163f6cf8ff8009adb0b1772a3a4c7""No es hermosa, Santiago?"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Isn't she beautiful? /emMomia said. Her voice sounded strange...like she was choking. "No es la nina mas hermosa que hayas visto?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Isn't she the most beautiful little girl you've ever seen?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="24c6a8b0a4fb8cabad27b40b02f4ab15"His mouth curved into disgust, and looking into his eyes she regretted presenting Rochelle in front of him. Papi didn't look happy. He looked angry./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="04e113f28013fd483825781e3bfe8e86""Solo unos pocos minutos." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Just a few minutes./em Momia said quickly. Too quickly. Was she afraid? But why?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="da3bc73546379784aa31b0362d5f659b""Has hecho esto a proposito, Alejandra? Pensaste que su puesta en ese vestido que resaltar el color de sus ojos?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Did you do this on purpose, Alejandra? Did you think that her putting on that dress would bring out the colour in her eyes?/em His words startled Rochelle. They were cold and angry./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="77243d15de6c38c1e5b39eb8293928e8"She looked at her mother and immediately wished she hadn't. Momia's face was filled with hurt. Perhaps Papi didn't like the way she dressed herself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="395d39186a37ba9219cafe5cb00b6736"Determined to gain her father's love, she made a note to herself to thank him for the gifts he had sent her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="532706c367f44fe523ddd7feb01d3bb1"Gaining courage, she stepped forward, tugging on her father's coat./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7b11048c3679883e96e3d6ca3b7b70d""Papi..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0f1486a441dcf3d22a3aa39587b09b82""No me llames asi!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Do not call me that!/em Santiago snapped, his eyes burning with rage. She blinked, frightened by his demeanour. She didn't understand. He was her Papi, wasn't he? At least, Momia said so.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="09753dcfd2e235a3dcbfaa356d807f8b""Qierio darle las gracias por los regalos tu-" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I want to thank you for the presents you-/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="31a76bafff8f2d754842cd593945d578""Silencio Rochelle." Alejandra said quickly. "Ahora no querida." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Not now darling./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="299507467ed8f6bb82f55a284f752de7"Santiago flashed her mother a silencing look. "Dejala hablar. Es lo que querias, no era? Por que su silenciamiento ahora, Alejandra?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Let her speak. It is what you wanted, was it not? Why are you silencing her now, Alejandra?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="86cd81515243b26acc954e6bea02dc5e"Momia stepped closer towards Rochelle, her hand trembling. But father bent down towards her, smiling. "Lo presenta?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What presents?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1b3b45e1e113ce458055caf442f8c9c4"He was so handsome. Rochelle was proud to have a Papi like him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7f79f66b8fa17455ecb1694550ea2174""Dime, pequeña." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Tell me, little one/em./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="15a26962492fe699d89f79268d306a04""Siempre me gusta las pulseras que me traen." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I always like the bracelets you bring me/em. Rochelle smiled, feeling proud beneath his attention. "Son muy bonita. Pero lo mejor do todo, me encanta el ángel de cristal." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They are very pretty. But best of everything, I love the crystal angel. /emShe glowed with joy when Papi listened to her carefully. And he smiled. Though it wasn't a friendly smile. It was tight./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2f699cd06d4391a27eeb2575d57d4691"He straightened and looked at Momia. "Es bueno saber cuanto significan mis regalos."em style="box-sizing: border-box;" It is nice to know how much my gifts mean./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="97c02d4248b5148768033b511269eca4"Then he gave a cold glare to Momia, one that sent shivers down Rochelle's spine./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e25415c0ae1382396338d9cb0fe1ac1c""Asi que pase mis regalos para le nino," em style="box-sizing: border-box;"So you pass my gifts to the child,/em Papi said. "Es bueno saber lo que significan para ti."em style="box-sizing: border-box;" It's good to know what they mean to you./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="24336954025df5ac32b0fda8c052207f"Momia bit her lip in fear, and touched Rochelle's shoulder gently. "Carino, se buena chica y vaya dentro y jugar ahora." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Darling, be a good girl and go inside and play now./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1e5daf36523a090f83f5a4b9c4e509b0"Rochelle looked up, distressed and upset. What had she done wrong?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2a8e1d70d8260d85e6a8f683612f50f5""No puedo quedarme? Te prometo que estare tranquila." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Can't I stay? I promise I'll be quiet./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="448b4b2acb0396c47f3e4ce967da906b"Momia couldn't seem to make out her words; she couldn't speak. Her eyes were very moist and she looked at Santiago./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="27b0ef639e66ad2ab2d203a381831a23"He answered for her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cd4718d6ea1c3e32e9f82081d64ba024""Entra y jugar." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Go inside and play./emHe said calmly, a sheer contrast to the coldness before. "Quiero hablar con su Momia solo." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I want to talk to your Momia alone./emHe smiled and patted her cheek./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6d25e237d7786009afd3018cd63ee5b8"Rochelle smiled, utterly enchanted. Papi wasn't angry at all! He loved her! Just as mother said!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d36504d5323f81f39ca496e88af1d07a""Ahora corre a lo largo de." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Now run along. /emHe straightened stiffly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c6aa6c7cd9f1c517acfcf992f233f9e7"Rochelle nodded in obedience, and skipped happily around the side gate of the cottage, she picked a few daisies that lay in the grass, and sat near the corner, not wanting to disturb them, but wanting to be near them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9a4cd63f6a15fb638f6de8b27b81225a""El me quiere... no me quiere... me quiere... no me quiere..."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He loves me...he loves me not...he loves me...he loves me not.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="85774b9962997c56a2097361a9f17aba"Rochelle daydreamed contently. Maybe one day Papi would take her for a ride on his big, black motorbike. She wished he had let her sit on his lap while he was talking to Momia. She wouldn't have been noisy. She would have been no bother./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="de816253446b4f8bd28e5963cc9fa9df"She could hear distant voices around the corner, as she was not far away. Rochelle took a deep breath of the flowers around her. Her Momia loved gardening. She loved planting roses./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3b22eb3ec22685b26a1e829451dcee19""Que ida a hacer, Santiago? Usted nunca ha pasado mas de un minuto con ella. Que iba a decir? Que iba a decirle? Su Papi no le importa? Que el desea que ella nunca fueron a nacer?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What was I to do, Santiago? You've never spent more than a minute with her. What was I to say? What was I to tell her? Her Papi doesn't care? That he wishes she were never to be born?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6428a5e5332356d3084094108cf52e12"Rochelle's lips parted, overhearing the conversation. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Deny it, Papi! Deny it! It's not true!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6a99cd0b1306a3197d862e528a587724""He traído ese ángel do vuelta de América por ti, y te arrojo a la basura a un nino que no tiene el cuidado de su valor. Le da las perlas también? Que pasa con el collar de diamantes? Supongo que tiene que, también!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I brought that angel back from America for you, and you throw it away to a child who has no care for its worth. Did you give her the pearls as well? What about the diamond necklace? I suppose she got that, too!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="43627ad9ddae66304c324a51826708a3"The daises fluttered from Rochelle's hand. She sat on the ground, careless of her pretty dress. Her heart slowed from it's excited beat. Everything inside of her seemed to spiral downward with each word./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="95de2551581eb1452bb20f80c7d2f58c""Santiago, por favor. Yo no veo nada malo an ello. Ni siquiera la conoces. Ella es una nina hermosa. Ella es como usted de muchas maneras. Ella es una persona, de Santiago. No se puede ignorar su existencia para siempre. Ella es su hija..."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Santiago, please. I didn't see any harm in it. You don't even know her. She is a beautiful child. She's quick and charming and isn't afraid of anything. She is like you in many ways. She's someone, Santiago. You cannot ignore her existence forever. She's your daughter.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="192b2b302af22ee3be3ac4301e2f6681""Mo tengo suficientes hijos por mi esposa. Los hijos por mi esposa. Los hijos legítimos. Te dije que no quería otra." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I have enough children by my wife. Legitimate children. I told you I didn't want another./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="dc2c910125e2353e599fc06da167d2fc""Como puedes decir eso? Como no puedes amar a tu propia carne y sangre?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"How can you say that? How can you not love your own flesh and blood?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="74dfa66a5f90341b52986b7f6911709b""Te dije lo que sentía desde el principio, pero no quiso escucharme. Ella nunca debería haber nacido, Alejandra. Pero usted asistido en tener su propio camino." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I told you how I felt from the beginning, but you wouldn't listen. She should never have been born, Alejandra. But you insisted on having your own way./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e8a4ff211c1d28b3e58b1dd76329d33c""Crees que quería quedar embarazada? Cree usted que yo planeaba? Cree usted que yo planeaba tener ella?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Do you think I wanted to get pregnant? Do you think I planned to have her?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="382ac3ecd12a8fb01881ba676e4ed1c0""Muchas veces me he preguntado. Sobre todo cuando me organizo una salida a la situación pere usted y usted se negó. El medico que le envié a habría hecho cargo do todo el lió. El habría librado -"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I've often wondered. Especially when I arranged a way out of the situation for you and you refused. The doctor I sent you to would have taken care of the whole mess. He would've gotten rid -/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="556d682c178ab2eb242c9edc1511040c""No pude hacerlo. Como puedes esperar que mate a mi hijo por nacer? No lo entiendes?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I could not do it. How could you expect me to kill my unborn child? Don't you understand?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b5821f63d4a332b6cea94e76dd902295""Alguna vez has pensado que no tendría los problemas que usted hace ahora si habría conseguido librarse de ella de la manera que te dije! Hubiera sido fácil, pero se acabo." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Have you ever thought that you wouldn't have the problems you do now if you had gotten rid of her the way I told you! It would have been easy, but you ran out./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4795752c963323da69b1aabe00313f8d""Yo quería que ella!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I wanted her! /emMomia said brokenly. "Ella era, aparte de ti, Santiago, y parte de mi. Yo quería que ella incluso si no lo hizo..." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"She was apart of you, Santiago, and part of me. I wanted her even if you didn't.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7d2b4ee08345cd27d5736eaeb47aba94""Esa es la verdadera razón?"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Is that the real reason?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="079fad4b8e93711299980eef41c15abb""Me estas haciendo dano Santiago!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You're hurting me Santiago!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7ed4ff4983b115e9b38f17feedf03cd0"Rochelle flinched as something shattered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="509bc91cdf005f4e91803a2115e0964c""Eso es la verdadera razón, Alejandra? O usted tiene su porque que lleva mi hijo le daría usted sostiene sobre mi os faltaba otra cosa?!"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Is that the real reason, Alejandra? Or did you have her because you thought bearing my child would give you hold over me you otherwise lacked?!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b3118e269763ea707762f23c3eee99a9""No puedes creer eso!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You can't believe that!/em Momia was crying now. "Tu lo haces. No crees? Usted es un idiota, de Santiago. Oh, que he hecho? Le di todo por ti! Mi familia, mis amigos, mi amo propio. Todo lo que yo creía en, todo lo que tenia esperanza en..." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You do. Don't you? You are an idiot, Santiago. Oh, what have I done? I gave up everything for you! My family, my friends, my self-respect. Everything I believed in, everything I had hope in.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cfbf72a6c094f70ce12482031d047953""Proporione un hogar para usted. Te doy todo lo que pueda necesitar." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I provided a home for you. I give you all the things you could possibly need./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8743cb9bc20918f2378c3c20860d0d3c"Momia's voice rose strangely. "Sabes lo que es para mi caminar por la ciudad? Usted entrar y salir cuando te plazca. Ellos saben quienes son, y saben quien soy. Nadie me mira. Nadie me habla. Rochelle siente tambien. Ella me pregunto acerca de una vez, y yo le dije que éramos diferentes de otras personas. Yo no sabía qué más decir." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Do you know what it's like for me to walk through town? You come and go as you please. They know who you are, and they know who I am. No one looks at me. No one speaks to me. Rochelle feels it too. She asked me about it once, and I told her we were different from other people. I didn't know what else to say./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a69ad63157b5d0494e2faff2a02838bf"Her voice broke. "He hecho tanto mal, me merezco el dolor..." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I have done so much wrong, I deserve pain.../em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7495d405c0f661fe496791cd7f525c4b""Estoy harto de su culpa y estoy harto de oír hablar de ese niño. Ella está arruinando todo entre nosotros. Te acuerdas de lo felices que éramos? Nunca discutimos . No podía esperar para ir a vosotros, para estar con ustedes." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'm sick of your guilt and I'm sick of hearing about that child. She's ruining everything between us. Do you remember how happy we were? We never argued. I couldn't wait to come to you, to be with you./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1441dfcb5b4ce16b327ac964173258fd""No lo hagas -" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Don't -/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="83f046d90c4ddc0c637c87225a9e1e90""Y cuánto tiempo me queda con ustedes hoy ? Suficiente? Usted ha utilizado para arriba en ella. Te dije lo que iba a pasar, no? Ojalá nunca había de nacer!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"And how much time do I have left with you today? Enough? You've used it up on her. I told you what would happen, didn't I? I wish she had never of been born!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="98b55265a404657d4ef236e4da200ced"Momia cried out a terrible name. There was a crash./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="61c225b7f8e4de660e630c76a9e910b2"Terrified, Rochelle got up and ran. She raced through Momia's flowers and into the field behind the cottage. She ran until she couldn't run anymore./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1d197bc8b783f7b45ba3cf021723d799"Gasping, her sides burning, she dropped into the rushes, her shoulders heaving with sobs, her face streaked with tears. She heard a engine coming towards her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2c876f450f157684343d8227c29efb9c"Scrambling for a better hiding place behind a tree nearby, she peered out and saw her Papi ride by on his motorbike. Ducking down, she huddled there, crying, and waited for Momia to come fetch her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f708d75c814a6e25929f65e249c5decd"But Momia didn't come and she didn't call. After a while, Rochelle wandered back to the cottage and sat by the rosh bushes and waited longer. By the time Momia came, Rochelle had dried her tears and dusted off her green dress./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="69840804654a21b591d8c4c7b7b8112f"She was still shaking from what she had heard./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="455703987eaf134afe65be4caa8961ce"Momia was very pale, her eyes dull and red rimmed. There was a blue mark on the side of her face. She had tried to cover it with powder. She smiled, but it wasn't like her usual smile./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="571c7155403ea4c40a35d7c09f44916d""Dónde has estado , cariño? He estado buscando por todas partes para usted." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Where have you been, darling? I've been looking everywhere for you./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3881f9844a3ffe7f251c403e64ecd8b3"Rochelle knew she hadn't. She had been waiting for her. Momia licked her lacy handkerchief and wiped a smudge from Rochelle's cheek./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="db4e19120774f27240336ac412aca154""Tu Papi fue llamado repentinamente por negocios." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Your Papi was called away suddenly on business./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bee0f16f32dad2e93a2f0b721ce16dff""Está a volver ?"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Is he coming back? /emRochelle was afraid. She never wanted to see him again. He had hurt Momia and made her cry./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="38f01d14038e32cefa77372b6b0bb3c3""Tal vez no durante mucho tiempo . Sólo tendremos que esperar y ver. Él es una persona muy importante." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Maybe not for a long time. We'll just wait and see. He's a very important person. /emRochelle said nothing, and her mother lifted her and hugged her close./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e0484dfa33b0d32c70609c797fd9d48e""Está bien, cariño. Sabes lo que vamos a hacer? Vamos a volver a entrar y limpiar. Entonces vamos a hacer un picnic y nos vamos hacia el río. Te gustaría eso?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"It's alright, sweetheart. You know what we're going to do? We're going to go back inside and clean up. Then we'll pack a picnic and go down to the river. Would you like that?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="66e9f294d35e7493c418df63e2810a3c"Rochelle nodded and put her arms around mother's neck. Her mouth trembled, and she tried not to cry. br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /If she cried, Momia might guess she had been eavesdropping and then she would be angry, too./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ab66e0ea362e9ac3f0ee4094e14dac6f"Momia held her tightly, her face buried in Rochelle's hair. "Lo haremos a través de este. Verás, mi amor. Lo haremos. Lo haremos." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"We'll make it through this. You'll see, sweetheart. We will. We will./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="66f5bb4c16beb0dd21896047ccdb8d9d"***/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bffe98f0f1dcb9fcce7f4a7e4aa415e9"Santiago Valdez didn't come back, and Momia grew thin and wan. She stayed in bed too late, and when she got up, she didn't want to go for long walks like she used to. When she smiled, her eyes didn't light up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="01bf8fefced5ca137dd8dc7f5f95b564"Rochelle tried to cheer up Momia by picking her bunches of flowers. br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /She found pretty stones and washed them, giving them to her as presents./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="88e2c45fc425b151ae7dd3093728114e"Momia always smiled and said thankyou, but there was no sparkle in her eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9b0ea2aaaac39a4f15fe609c87c9c1d4"Rochelle sang the folk-songs Momia had taught her; a few traditional songs and a few nursery rhymes she used to listen to at night./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f8575f7bd11b864db5521e8315c2fbbd""Momia, por qué no cantar más ?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Momia, why don't you sing anymore? /emRochelle once asked, climbing up onto the bed with her and setting her doll in the rumpled covers. "Te sentirás mejor si cantas." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You'll feel better if you sing./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0848f9a9ac79d4c47861615f3102a14f"Momia brushed her long, wavy ebony hair slowly. "Yo no tengo ganas de cantar, querida. Momia tiene un montón de cosas en su mente en este momento." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I don't feel like singing, darling. Momia has a lot of things on her mind right now./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a2db26a84427f1042ca3a47b39ffec8e"Rochelle felt a heaviness growing inside of her. It was all her fault. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"All/em her fault. If she hadn't been born, Momia would be happy./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c2f9f2db74688b81ddcaaf47058bbbb4""Será Santiago volver, Momia?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Will Santiago come back, Momia?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0de9bf7cc2acd2bca1e95fca770de4a1"Momia looked at her, but Rochelle didn't care. She wouldn't call him Papi anymore. He had hurt Momia and made her upset. Ever since he'd left, Momia had scarcely paid any attention to her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7c371cbdc64f4ffb022ee0524b654f4c"Rochelle glanced at Momia's face, and her heart sank. She looked so sad. Her thoughts were far away again, and Rochelle knew she was thinking of him. Momia wanted him to come back. Momia cried at night because he didn't. Momia pressed her face into her pillow at night, but Rochelle still heard her sobs./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="42b274b46dec9c263b5f9c59e9429410"She chewed on her lip and lowered her head, playing distractedly with her doll. "Qué pasa si me enfermé y murió, Momia?"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"What if I got sick and died, Momia?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0129a94261ea923de1b184f561410593""Usted no se enferman," em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You wouldn't get sick,/emMomia said, glancing at her. She smiled. "Eres demasiado joven y saludable a morir."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"You are far too young and healthy to die./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3526f64170a0ea0625e65a862987e729"Rochelle watched her brushing her hair. It was like a flowing waterfall, thick and wavy. Momia was so pretty. How could Santiago not love her?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e2c739b29b5abb34a744e9f53f108d87""Pero si lo hiciera, Momia , iba a volver y quedarme contigo?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"But if I did, Momia, would he come back and stay with you?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5d3af30793e3ef704e39f78cb71d466f"Momia went very still. She turned and stared at Rochelle, and the horrified look in her eyes frightened her. She shouldn't of said that. Now Momia might guess she'd heard them fighting.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="04093da29e6e60ca01f9927f2c5d3ce7""No pienses nunca que, Rochelle." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Don't ever think that, Rochelle./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d07749b642280d4934840586231cc6f6""Pero -" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"But -/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="979991f6134673631344510368731566""No! No te has preguntado alguna vez esa pregunta de nuevo. Lo entiendes?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"No! Don't you ever ask such a question again. Do you understand?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7ae21438979b74c327ea3cb21d21de9e"Momia had never raised her voice before, and Rochelle felt her chin quiver./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="26d979d5f59e0c0406b49bc695cb1499""Sí, Momia." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Yes, Momia./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d940d7be4d2e8baa456a326821e0a9dd""Nunca más," em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Never again,/emMomia said more gently. "Prométeme. Nada de esto tiene algo que ver con usted, Rochelle." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Promise me. None of this has anything to do with you, Rochelle./emMomia reached out to pull her into her arms and stroke her tenderly. "Te quiero, Rochelle. Te amo demasiado. Te quiero más que a nada ni a nadie en el mundo entero."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I love you, Rochelle. I love you so much. I love you more than anything or anyone in the whole world./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c4abb9bee0849796746e4ddb5a4fe3d0"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Except for him,/em Rochelle thought. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Except for Santiago Valdez./em What if he came back? What if he made Momia choose? What would Momia do then?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0c5a71622661d38ff693f0b49da236ba"***/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ab993e6409a64ded1d69c8861d9f95fd"Soon Santiago Valdez stopped sending them money for provisions. One morning, when Rochelle woke up and walked into the lounge room, she found boxes everywhere, and Momia was packing her things./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="08897466ad88548d8a8f14e444e440bc""Vamos a visitar a su grandmomia y grandisonar." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"We are going to visit your grandmother and grandfather./emMomia said brightly, but her eyes looked dull and dead. "Ellos nunca te han visto." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"They've never seen you./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bc1a58a0a24baed5259fd85e7e27892b"Rochelle woke up in the middle of the night. Momia wasn't in the bed, but Rochelle could hear her. She followed the sound of her Momia's stricken voice and went into the back room facing the garden. The window was open, and she went to look out./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0ebb70dc28d2587cbca8bab53f8a8e60"What was Momia doing in the middle of the night?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9f6dc9e2ef7e73a96b529d9696c2acdd"Moonlight flowed over the flower garden and Rochelle saw her kneeling in her thin, silk nightdress. She was ripping all the flowers out./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a3beda85ae372182e981c2fcf53e2e59"Handful after handful, she yanked the plants up and flung them in all directions, weeping and talking to herself as she did. She picked up a knife and came to her feet. She went down again on her knees beside her beloved rose bushes. One after another, she cut the roots. Every last one of them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="19918e6cd84f0451663a871dea8faaf6"Then she bent forward and sobbed, "He hecho esto a mí mismo. He hecho esto a mí mismo. Mea culpa, mea culpa...em style="box-sizing: border-box;"" I've done this to myself. I've done this to myself. Mea culpa, mea culpa... /emShe whispered, rocking herself back and forth, back and forth, the knife still in her hand./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="65d6584d9b60ea43c46ddc7244608981"Rochelle sank down onto the floor inside and hid in the darkness of the corner, her hands covering her ears./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="22e3d0d541f837edddb2f72a3b9c2833"She didn't want to hear the sobbing of her Momia./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="99ff9ddc7c2b929618345b5bdbe0810d"***/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="046ac7463df26a772360209a631802d9"The next day, Rochelle and her Momia drove together in Momia's car. They travelled the long journey to her grandparent's home in Valencia./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6675e64298535919149a7300e8ac93bb"Momia hoped that her parents would forgive her, and let both of them stay. She pleaded and begged on her knees with desperation at their doorstep./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e8d1bad91cc482c51b41ee0b7a965c3e"But with disgust and repulsiveness, they kicked her out, not listening to anything Momia would try to say./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="098eec7ab56789adf2140f2ff43f3a75"Momia sold her pearl necklaces and jewelry. She and Rochelle lived in a nearby hotel until the money gave out. Momia sold her expensive diamond ring, and for a while they lived quite comfortably in an inexpensive boarding inn./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="024671182ef63b1170b85d1d09124d16"Finally, she asked Rochelle to give back the crystal angel, and with the money they got for it, Momia and Rochelle travelled back to Madrid and settled for good in a rundown shack./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="57fa960c526193256d7118ac52c8be53"Rochelle finally saw the Manzanares river. It had garbage floating through it. But she liked it very much./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="47eeea115190b20e850b757695c42fae"There were rough men at the docks who came from around the country./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="939bed3697ff0ebadd230d0bd2834cff"Some came to visit, and Momia would ask Rochelle to wait outside until they left. They never stayed very long. Sometimes they would pinch her cheeks and tell her they would come back when she was older. Some said she was prettier than Momia, but Rochelle knew that wasn't true./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="00663e2ff1229423084afc7424cc692b"Then Uncle Fernando came to live with them, and things got better. He was big and dumb, but Momia treated him with affection. They slept together in the bed by the window, and Rochelle had the cot on the floor./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b0714b10502102e17e87279ad1f1ca56"When it rained, Fernando would go to the pub down the road to be with his friends. Momia would drink and sleep./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ff3749bec04b45b44520cddb5cd11d22"To pass the time, Rochelle found tin cans and washed them, until they shone like silver. She set them beneath the roof leaks. Then she would sit in the quiet shack and listen to the music the drops made plinking into the tins./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="123e89f28dbaac22ed9c0db6d7d91805"Crying did no good. Momia cried and cried until Rochelle wanted to cover her ears and never hear her again. All Momia's crying never changed anything./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="577a8c49be399cfc0ed9905cb0b9e9a0"The winter Rochelle was eight, Momia and Fernando went away for a while. Momia said they would be back in two days, but they didn't come back until the next week./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ef0f8d22728dc8df2aa50b07853c77f1"When Fernando and Momia finally arrived, Rochelle was huddled by the fire with a thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her last can of beans was finished./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="851946d18238c3906a1c922539cbf85c"The knock on the door startled Rochelle, and she jumped up from the cold floor and ran to the door. After it swung open her heart jumped excitedly. Momia was here, and so was Fernando. A man stood behind them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="da98cea8bc5f1cee05fe88d81789b055""Rochelle," Momia opened her arms for a hug. Rochelle didn't hesitate, she loved the familiar smell of her Momia. They walked inside, Fernando and the stranger following behind./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7e30d7f564b67fb5e6723c5977267d63"Momia sat Rochelle down onto the rug. "Tengo una buena noticia, querida. Este hombre le ha dado la oportunidad de vivir una vida mejor." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I've got good news, darling. This man has given you an opportunity to live a better life./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5f214519d2463d98375df26ad5a8e1fd"Rochelle blinked, confused, but backed away when the unknown man stepped towards her. She didn't like him. He reminded her of a snake./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c542ef5c0efd78c1a3f639e994a9f891"His beady eyes examined Rochelle from head to toe. "Hola, pequeña. Mi nombre es Wolfgang Von Strucker. Pero puedes llamarme tío Strucker." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Hello, little one. My name is Wolfgang Von Strucker. But you can call me Uncle Strucker. /emHe held a strange, foreign accent as he spoke. The man held out his hand towards Rochelle, but she shrinked away towards her Momia. She was scared./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="183b9964b39933cd7e32b870abbc734e"Momia placed her hand on Rochelle's shoulder, comforting her. "Está bien, Roch. Este hombre no te hará daño, él es rico y es dueño de un buen negocio." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"It's alright, Roch. This man won't hurt you, he's wealthy and owns a good business./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9850f8d68a3253dfe5e15dff59e3d85c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"So?/em Rochelle felt cornered. "Q-qué estás tratando de decir?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"W-what are you trying to say?/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3964047ec59ba7b2469b382b5e402af9"'Uncle Strucker' leant down in front of the shivering girl and reached for her hand. He dug his other hand into his pant pocket and pulled out a chocolate bar. He placed it into her cold grasp. "Quiero adoptar, pequeña."em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I want to adopt you, little one./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="683ee063c58f3504cad94aaa6a89ddff"Rochelle felt her chin wobble. She turned to her Momia in disbelief. Her Momia's expression said it all; the man was not joking./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="a8b7f5d623cf1552714d3e54623dba84""Momia, no quiero dejarte. O bien, el tío Fernando." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Momia, I don't want to leave you. Or you, Uncle Fernando./emShe glanced between Momia and Fernando, who did not move from their seated positions. Her Momia's eyes were watery. Uncle Fernando was grim./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b45f58324f66be29cd9dd3a657f85869""No te preocupes , chico," em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Don't worry, kid. /emFernando said, "Voy a dejarte en su casa. Estarás bien." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'll drop you off at his house. You'll be fine./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9f5d5af107f06956ec9fde5df8b5b57d""Y me quedo con el buen cuidado de usted." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"And/em em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'll take good care of you. /emStrucker placed his hand into hers, and opened the door for her and Fernando. She dug in her heels, her eyes wide with panic. Surely Momia wasn't going to get rid of her so quickly, was she?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3d063f06e0a0c0edbc7b02c8900649a6""Momia!" She cried, turning her head around to her. "Por favor! Déjame quedarme! Voy a ganarme la vida, haré lo que sea!" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Please! Let me stay! I'll earn my keep, I'll do anything! /emTears streamed down her face as her Momia stood by the door. Her back stiff, and her mouth pressed to a thin line./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="96d8016ab3817031a0990aad3db80380""Lo siento, cariño." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I'm sorry, darling. /emHer voice broke and she choked on her tears. "Pero usted no merece vivir en este basurero más, que se merece una vida mejor y más feliz." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"But you don't deserve to live in this dump anymore, you deserve a better and much more happy life. /emThe young girl watched in shock and defeat as her beloved Momia waved her a small goodbye. Her heart went with Momia as she slammed the rickety door shut. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Slam. /emJust like that, her life had been shattered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f11875d5b3decea3eecc68e25211f7aa"Rochelle wailed in desperation as Strucker and Uncle Fernando forcefully dragged her away from the shack and into the crowded streets of Madrid. "Momia..." She choked on the salty, hot tears that streamed down her face. "Momia, no me dejes." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Momia, don't leave me./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="98638b6a1875dce3202ef2016dcd08fe"Uncle Strucker tugged on her fingers gently. "Va a estar bien, hijo. Va a servir a un propósito más grande que esto. " em style="box-sizing: border-box;"It's going to be okay, child. You will serve a greater purpose than this./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="aa9fac4c34f736beca239b45d3f97bdc"When she didn't stop crying, he bent down in front of her, and wiped her tears with his thumb. "Sabes lo que significa su nombre?" em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Do you know what your name means? /emHe didn't wait for her answer. "Significa 'pequeña roca.' Así que no llores, llanto no hará que su madre de vuelta. Sé fuerte como una roca." em style="box-sizing: border-box;"It means 'little rock.' So don't cry, crying will not get your mother back. Be strong like a rock./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3f11fb3d79190af983a03d7d790ae8ac"Rochelle didn't reply. She didn't know what to say. She felt numb, numb to the chill outside, and numb to the chill that was beginning to form inside of her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d9d24f4f940ac0c7c8affa15ead3bc8d"She was too young. The hard luck of life had hit her hard./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cd7ff695437021f3904c45af35aa938e"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"***/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="46fc568418994bc2b6d1913a7e5021ad"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"AUTHOR'S NOTE:/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="36f0b3146dc8fbb4c2d050e7d36187a3"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Ah, yes. I know you are most likely confused at this point, but have no fear. This is just a sneakpeek into Rochelle's backstory. She is Spanish, and she was 'adopted' by Strucker. That's all I'm giving you. In the next chapter we'll jump right the present day, and into a Captain America Civil War plot, it will all make sense soon./span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4686c7153b7967c60d2f4c9c10b5f0b1"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Yours truly,/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2ed27db63838f377e7ddbfcaae32e066"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"-#FANGIRL/span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="26478db11a74b3c8675f463fee30cba7" /p