Chapter 2
Hector woke to the room filled with sunlight and his girl still asleep on his chest. He almost shot up immediately worried that he was late for work before his nerves settled. He smiled and laid back 'Si I can relax' he thought. He didn't think to disturb Imelda for nearly half an hour, knowing full well she needed her rest. But the feeling of her eyelashes fluttering on his collarbone told him she was awake.
"Good morning" he said and rubbed her back. Imelda murmured something in return and stretched as she sat up and let the blanket fall around her waist. She then remembered her current state of dress -or lack thereof- and covered herself. Hector looked down with a redness spread across his face.
They stayed in their room for a while longer before getting dressed and going about their day together, meeting Hector's Abuela in the kitchen "Oh Hector, did you sleep well mijo?" she asked with a massive smile on her face. "Yes we did Abuela." Hector replied , both he and his wife giving Valentina a hug.
Most of their day was spent together, playing music, meeting with friends and talking with their families. Anyone they knew congratulated them as they walked around until they settled in the town center where a mariachis band played and they danced until well into the night. They strolled back home hand in hand and drunk off life.
The rest of the night was spent singing and dancing in the living room until they could hardly move and they collapsed onto the sofa, Hector still lazily strumming his guitar as Imelda rested her head on his lap. The world seemed to disappear as she looked up at him, as if the planet faded away and time stood frozen. They savored the moment, holding it close because they knew it wasn't going to come back.
About a month later Hector was on his way home from work when he saw Imelda run out of the house with a terrified look on her face "Hector!" she screamed.
"Imelda what's going on are you okay?" he asked, an obvious look of concern and terror creeping on to his face.
She grabbed his hand "Oh Hector, It's Valentina!" before she could say anything else Hector was running into the house, not even bothering to close the door and running into his Abuela's tiny room. She lie in her bed struggling to breathe and sputtering with bloodshot eyes that could hardly open. He approached the bed "Mama Valentina." he said and kneeled down as Imelda stood in the doorway.
Her breathing eased ever so slightly "M-Matio?" she exhaled, turning her head on the pillow to look at him. "No abuela, Its me. Hector." he spoke softly. Gingerly he squeezed her hand, finding that it was flaming. He checked her forehead and found that it too was burning up "Are you alright?" he asked as his wife grabbed his arm in an attempt to comfort him.
She shook her head slowly, her eyes swollen and mouth dry "No Mijo" she whispered. Imelda placed a hand over the two of theirs'. "You won't be alone for a second Abuela." she said and Hector nodded " Si". He tried to appear strong but knew what was coming. The lump in his throat was becoming harder to swallow.
The moments ticked by for several hours "Mijo…" Valentina managed to find the strength to say "Sing for me por favor". Hector looked up and , without wasting a moment began his little song, the first he had ever written.
"One day I'll have a golden guitar
And I promise you everything you could ever
Want or need
Oh I'll be there one day ,
High above it all
And I promise that we'll never fall"
By the time he stopped his song tears were flowing down his face. There was a moment of nothing but Valentina's heavy breathing until there was silence. Her iron grip on their hands went limp and the rise and fall of her chest stopped. Hector gripped his grandmother's hand , his face contorting in pain before letting out a deep primal scream "NO!" he exhaled , lying his head on the edge of the bed and allowing his tears to sink into the sheets. Imelda hugged him tight but knew it was to no avail. They sat longer then either would have expected until Hector finally stood up and whipped his face "I'll talk to the undertaker." he said both void and flooded with emotion.
A/N: Wow that got very sad. sorry it took me a while to finally update and also if they're are any errors.