It's mine and my boyfriend's eleventh anniversary!
TW: mentions of child abuse
Next up is Diane. She lets everyone know about her past with her kidnappers who had her believing they were really her parents. Her voice cracks at times as she's speaking of the horror she'd managed to live through. Charles seems to be aware of her story and he's holding his wife securely. Blanca's sickened by the fact that Diane had actually been taken and raised by a cult of Hitler worshipping Klu Klux Klan members and at sixteen, almost been forced to marry an old Nazi who would repeatedly abuse her. She's never seen her former boss in such a vulnerable state before.
"It's only a miracle that my biological mother found me at this nightclub when I was seventeen...Frieda Berlin. She was knocked out on painkillers when I was stolen from her by this bitch who dressed as a nurse and used blackface. Frieda and I became close. When I'd visit her, she'd find me just sitting on the guest bed in a slump, hugging my knees to my chest. She'd try to get through to me, but sometimes, she wasn't able to. Since I didn't know my own birthday, I made one up for myself, November thirteenth, since that's the date Frieda and I met. She killed the monster for me, just when I was about to get marked with his name...and as for Edward and Phyllis, they were arrested when Frieda reported them, but...those extremely traumatic memories will stay with me forever." Diane's bright blue eyes shine with unshed tears. Her chin quivers as she gulps, but she doesn't break down. She looks absolutely miserable.
"One time, I asked 'em why they had me goin' to school if they just wanted me to be a brainless trophy wife...but they needed me to be able to read, write, and do math so I could make meals for my future husband, I'd have to learn how to read a cookbook for that! They told teachers I was allergic to gluten, so treats from other kids' birthdays wouldn't be given to me. They wanted me skinny as a rail and forced me to participate in anything that I would need a skimpy outfit for, like swimming, beauty pageants, dance, gymnastics, talent shows, cheerleading, beach volleyball, figure skating, and tennis. They got money off my looks and would be so furious if I lost competitions.
"They never actually acknowledged me on my birthday, but more made it about them, like they told the judges my birthday and I knew how old I was, but the exact day I was born has always been a mystery to me. They'd never let me have cake, of course, but lavish parties where I'd be carried in by men, whether I wanted it or not-starting from birth. It was always televised and everyone got cake except me. They burned all my, in their words, useless, presents to the ground, like jeans, pants, shirts, jackets, toys, or even pajamas since I was forced to sleep naked or in a nightdress, or they used them if they wanted them. They'd invite their bigot pals who didn't care that much about me, and my friends in school would try to sneak me cake. I'd take it, but then throw it away later. I'd have one bite and toss the rest out.
"The first time, when I was seven, I didn't understand the consequences of eating sweets, so I ate the whole thing since I'd never had it before. In preschool, they moved after giving my birthday out to teachers...I had to throw up the weight I gained. Even if it was only an ounce. Edward would always stand over my bed for hours and stare. I once held a knife in my shaking hands, frozen on the floor, unable to move, I wanted to do it, end my life in a second, but I was afraid of the pain and all the blood that would be gushing out of me. Picturing it made me sick and want to pass out. There are moments where I can't breathe and people gotta assure me that I'm not wearing the corset anymore that I was pressured to put on every day of my teenagehood."
Blanca gasps, disturbed at Diane's story. "That's awful, ¡lo siento mucho! I'd never treat my babies like that!" The others' faces are ones of displeasure as well.
"Yeah, me neither, what horrible parenting!" Karla chimes in.
"I couldn't even imagine," Gloria murmurs.
"Mm-hm, that's just tortuous," Diablo adds. The rest of them agree simultaneously.
"Do you still feel it on your body and get panic attacks?" Blanca wonders aloud.
"Yes, but not very often. I can control those better now...I've only had like, five in front of Charles."
Blanca looks away from her self-consciously. "You're really strong, Diane...more than me."
"Thank you, but you're tough, too, honey." The older brunette smiles at her, albeit shakily. "You got yourself and your babies out of that nightmarish house and away from him."
"Only after sixteen years," Blanca mutters.
"Don't blame yourself...it must've been so hard to escape him," Karla murmurs.
"Especially since he had you under his total control, my love," Diablo adds gently and kisses her brow.
"Lo sé, pero, still..."
"Blanquita, you did the best you could," Gloria assures her further. "¡Todas hicimos!"
We all did!
"Sí," Lourdes agrees. "All of you ladies are survivors...life gave you shit and you kicked it in the balls. Diane, I apologize deeply for your struggles."
"Thanks," she says meekly.
"You're welcome." Lourdes clears her throat. "Ahora...Debbie, do you want to go?"
The other white woman in the room nods. "My older sisters tried to kill me when I was little...nine years old." Everyone but Diane, Nita, and Charles, who probably already know her tale, knits their brows in deep concern. "It was nineteen-eighty-two, they were sixteen and seventeen at the time. I'm Alex's age, so we were in the same class...I went to her house for a school project. I helped her with the bullying she experienced...we were so close, but we kinda grew apart when I left for college a decade later. We recently reconnected over being lesbians, but that's about it. We're just like, casual acquaintances now. Anyway, Diane talked to us a lot, she was really nice...she was more of a parent than mine ever were." Debbie exchanges a grin with Diane. "At thirty-three, she was Barb's teacher...that's one of my attempted murderers. She and Alex were sitting near the two bitches in a high school gymnasium as they discussed how they'd end me. I was doing a gymnastic routine in a competition...I did a cartwheel and then twirled a ribbon. Carol watched Barb make out with a guy before breaking up with him...Carol had a jawbreaker lodged into her cheek until she spit it out at the dude in front of her."
"Yeah, and Barb was rolling her eyes as she slowly clapped for you," Diane goes on as she throws Debbie a sorrowful glance. "I knew Barb was also fishy after I scolded her for the scalding Milky Way incident at lunch. Carol sat back, sulking and drawing as Deb gracefully danced with a ribbon. She saw Carol's artwork and I happened to notice it as well, as I was right behind them. Of course, they never knew I was there...or they didn't give a shit. I've been like an aunt to her ever since she spent the night with Alex at our tiny apartment and opened up about her home life, so I listened harder to their budding conversation."
"Thank god, because according to Diane, Carol showed Barb a second sketch of me in pigtails, laying in my own blood with x's marked over my eyes and my mouth open and red. Behind her big, stupid, yellow glasses, Carol looked at Barb, her eyes heavy...with a smirk, Carol cocked her head, still eyeing me. It was creepy the way she stared...she drew boobs on me before I'd even developed." Debbie shivers as she huddles closer to Nita. Her girlfriend holds her hands and gives her a soft peck on her cheek.
"They talked about Deb's future demise in such a laid-back, eerie way...like it was nothing...as if they were planning what to have for breakfast or something." Diane looks haunted as she says this. The others appear to be troubled and Blanca trembles; this is how Dean feels about killing her.
Debbie nods uneasily. "Hanging me by my ribbon and filling my Yoplait with broken glass were two of their ideas...but Barb wanted it to appear like it was a mistake...they were gonna burn Carol's notebook. Diane insisted on driving me home and sleeping over with Alex, so I agreed. She told me the plan and I never wanted to be alone with them again. I asked her to call the police and she said they'd destroyed the evidence, so that wouldn't work.
"Another cold winter night in that very same year, my parents were going out to talk to my coach. My mom passed out pizza on paper plates and told my sisters to babysit me...I was so frightened. They flat-out refused, or tried to, anyway...Barb said she'd stay with her boyfriend and his family...my dad moved closer to her, shoved her against the wall, and told her that she wasn't allowed to. She just shook her head while I did a pirouette. Releasing Barb's arm, our dad headed for the door, followed by our mom.
"I was so mad at them for not believing me or Diane about Barb and Carol's evil plot...and not following through on their promise to take me to the lake so I could release my tadpoles. I was so afraid they'd die if I didn't...Carol yelled at me, saying no one cared about them...she grabbed my jar of tadpoles and raised it. I wanted Barb to save me from her...I thought she wouldn't ever do anything to hurt me...she said they'd bring me to where I wanted to go...she gave Carol a pointed look. With a small smile, Carol held out the jar. I snatched it, blinking back tears.
"That was my cue to hide in my room and pretend to get ready to leave, but really, I just dialed Diane's number and told her to come to the lake we were heading to in case she arrived and it was too late. She left her place right away, but we weren't home by the time she got there. I told Barb that I didn't even want to move out of West Virginia to stupid Plano, Texas...Coach Emery was great. Trudy's coaches were just pedophiles, basically. I really thought she gave a shit about me...but nope!"
"I found their location and hid behind the trees until those cunts disappeared into the forest," Diane continues. "So, first, I saw a moving car's headlights shine as they appeared between trees in the woods. It stopped with Carol at the wheel, Barb beside her, and Debbie in the back. Barb got out of the car and Debbie followed suit. Behind the wheel, Carol watched her sisters as they walked to the edge of the frozen lake. Snow fell gently. Then, Debbie was telling Barb something and the latter cringed. Debbie crouched, opened her tadpole jar, and emptied it into a watery hole in the ice. She stepped back, smiling. They grinned at each other after having a seemingly sweet convo, but suddenly, Carol charged with a hatchet, hollering loudly! I just about jumped out of my skin, my heart was beating so fast. Barb tried holding Carol back, but she broke free as Debbie ran to the car...I heard them yelling at her to do so."
Debbie nods, her eyes welling up with tears at the terrifying memory. "Barb let go of Carol...I climbed into the back and rapidly closed the door, I-I fumbled with the lock...Carol stared through a window as I struggled with the other rear door. She tapped the glass and I whipped around to find her grinning, Barb was holding up the door lock knobs...Carol left the window and I whimpered. Barb, that fucking betraying asshole, she tossed the knobs to the ground. Leaning back, I frantically tried the door again. My older sisters pushed the car towards the lake, they gave it one final push as I was screaming for help and banging on the back window."
"I was all ready to save her...my legs were shaking under me, but I somehow got myself to move...it's like I had superhuman strength or something. As the car rolled down the bank, across the frozen part of the lake, reaching the surface, it started sinking into the water. I got no idea how deep it was. Carol laughed. She had a cruel, serial killer smile stretched across her vile face...Barb grinned as she eyed the lake, humming 'She's a Maniac' as they headed off. The lake bubbled as the car disappeared below and I was so spooked, 'cause she was drowning. Wearing a wetsuit under my thinnest coat, thermal long-sleeved shirt, sweatpants, and socks, so I could swim faster without sinking too much, I dove into that water like a fucking mermaid...I don't even remember what stroke I did. It was so icy, but I had to rescue Debbie. The adrenaline kept me warm enough, I guess. I assumed correctly that she had heavy clothes on because she had no idea what they'd do."
"I waited in the car, gulping air at the back as the space closed...I couldn't let them see me...I'd be dead if they did...I stripped down to my long johns, I yanked off the headrest and broke the window...crying and hyperventilating...it took more than a few tries to crack the glass, but I did...I guess I passed out because I only saw blackness after that for a while."
"That's when I grabbed her up out of the water and brought us both back to the shore. I was sobbing as I held her unconscious body...I did CPR on her, pounded her chest until she started coughing up water a couple minutes later...she was breathing heavily, her eyes wide and panicked...I assured her she'd be okay. I called nine-one-one, told 'em what happened...I was scared that the sleazebag mistakes she called siblings would find us, but I suppose they thought all that rustling and splashing was from animals. They wickedly made up lies they'd tell...like claiming they instructed Debbie to remain in the vehicle, but she got in the front, stepped on the gas, and put it in drive, because she liked pretending to drive with her dad." Diane scoffs. "No one bought it, luckily...they were sentenced to twenty-five years in a maximum security prison, including juvie until they reached the age of eighteen...tried as adults. Alex and I moved to Queens, New York along with Deb and her parents. I was planning to have my daughter change schools anyway, because my poor girl was tormented so much when she was nine. I hope those rotten whores did somethin' to get life, 'cause otherwise, they're being released from the slammer in Litchfield this year."
Debbie pales. "You had to do the math? I haven't even watched the news since they were arrested...oh, fuck!"
"Hey, I won't let 'em come near you," Nita promises her, kissing her hand. She wipes a stray tear off Debbie's cheek. "I swear to God, baby. You're safe."
Blanca scoots her chair impossibly closer to Diablo; she completely understands the bone chilling fear that Debbie has, that they could find her and really rid themselves of her this time around. She reaches out and touches Debbie's wrist. "I get it. My lousy ex was on the hunt for me, too, until he was taken in handcuffs. I hope he dies behind bars, but I bet he won't. Dios mío...I look at my girls every day, how much they love and watch out for each other, and...Barb and Carol were monsters, I mean, their baby sister...Maritza protects hers, that's what older siblings are supposed to do...not commit fucking murder!" She sniffles and slides her fingers through Diablo's again. "I can't possibly...but you lived to tell the tale. We all did..."
"I'm not able to fathom Benji turning on Abel," Karla says, slowly rubbing circles on her belly.
"Me neither," Ramón concurs.
"My kids would never," Gloria mutters, pursing her lips.
The others murmur their agreements.
"Is that why you're a child psychologist now?" Diablo asks, and Debbie nods, managing a smile.
Lourdes' face is grave. "Thank you for sharing, Debbie. I'm very sorry you went through that...none of you deserved the trauma you had to suffer from." She looks around at them all. "I'm going to end our session by saying this...you may feel broken, but I guarantee that you will heal, even though it will take some time."
"Alright," they mumble at once.
"Wonderful!"
Then, the women all hug each other before exiting.
The child psychologist and Nita lead everyone into a colorful room with lots of toys in an open clear plastic box. Immediately, the little ones on the floor start playing with them. Raiza, Benji, Eva, and Armaria are let loose and so they scamper around, giggling loudly. Lucy sleeps soundly in the stroller. Christina is a big fan of the Barbies and their motorhome, as is Eva. Raiza hugs her Dora plushie as she sits beside some Polly Pocket dolls and rifles through them with one hand. Adarsh, Laronne, Benny, Julio, and Benji act out a scene with superhero action figures. The teenagers park themselves at the magenta-painted wicker table, flipping through magazines such as Tiger Beat, Seventeen, Bop, Teen Vogue, Girls Life, Sassy, CosmoGirl, Latina, and People en Español. Since Debbie's large hot pink leather couch isn't big enough, the men let the women sit on it while they stand.
"Sorry, I usually don't have this many patients!" Debbie says.
Blanca waves off her apology. "Está bien."
Maritza gazes around the neon pink, sunshine yellow, light purple, and sea blue walls that are covered in beautiful butterflies, Disney characters, rainbows, green and orange flowers and hearts, Teletubbies, the PowerPuff Girls, and Barney. She grins, for it's totally Raiza's kind of place. The pictures may be a bit too childish for her, but the magazines are so fun to thumb through. She can tell the other older girls feel the same way. Her baby sister, along with the other younger kids, look so comfortable and happy here. Daya smiles at Adarsh messing around with the boys and playing monster with them. Debbie passing out Capri Sun juice boxes and serving them applesauce with chicken nuggets, is part of it, too. She's been so kind thus far and welcoming to them all. Maritza, Flaca, Elena, Ceci, Daya, and the adults have apple grape cider with their snacks.
"Mira, Mami, tiny dwesses!" Raiza cheers, showing Blanca some Polly Pocket outfits. "They're so leeetle!"
"I know! You wanna change your muñecita's clothes?"
She nods pleasantly and skips back to the collection of mini dolls she'd been surrounded with.
"Raaaa, I'm gonna get you, little dudes!" Adarsh fake growls as he chases the giggling boys, making his hands into limp claws.
Flaca wears a perplexed expression. "I thought your hermanitos were scared of yelling, they seem fine..."
"They know Adarsh won't hurt 'em. They're cool with Leon, too," Daya informs her. "Cesar was unpredictable and so was Arturo."
Elena points at her. "True. Julio y Benito are starting to like Fahri, because he's nice and calm with our mom and us, too."
"Mommy, Daddy, help!" Benji jumps into Ramón's lap and his father hugs him. His mother rubs soothing circles on his back and then he leaves them to play with his friends again.
"Christina, can my Polly Pockets go into your and Eva's motorhome?"
The six-year-old nods, beaming. "Yeah! They're all friends. Size doesn't matter."
"Yay!"
"Barbie's in front 'cause she's the Pollys' mommy!" Christina announces. "Christie can be next to her."
Eva rolls the motorhome toward them as Armaria starts dancing adorably to a baby Spanish song.
Raiza wags her miniscule finger at Christina. "Don't forget Stacy, Skipper, Chelsea, and Kelly!"
"I won't!"
"FYI, ladies, they're sisters," Maritza reminds them.
"Oh, yeah!" Raiza smiles. She digs through the box again and holds up two Hispanic Barbie dolls, one Puerto Rican and the other Peruvian. "Mami, can I play with these? They look more like me. Plus, we got some at home."
"¡Sí, por supuesto!" Blanca smiles hugely.
"We were only allowed to play with the white dolls Dean bought us," Maritza clarifies and her friends and Flaca gaze at her sympathetically. "She's not used to seeing herself in muñecas. Neither am I, but...I'm too old for Barbies anyway. Mami got her that Dora plushie in our second week here."
"Oh, lo siento, but it's fantastic she has Dora!" Ceci says and the others nod in agreement.
Once the kids have played for a while, the adults finish talking and Debbie strides over. She clears her throat as she kneels. "Okay, guys and gals...all of you who would like to, why don't you gather in a circle around this table," she announces. She taps it and then sets out pieces of blank white paper and a box of markers. "We're going to draw what makes us happy...your favorite toy, or person, or...just anything that puts a smile on your face. Or, you can point them out to me if that's more comfortable for you."
Flaca and Maritza gesture toward each other while giggling. They share a short but sweet kiss. "Uh, well...besides my girl, of course, I enjoy music, especially The Smiths, makeup, familia y amigos, the basic teenage stuff," Flaca lets her know.
"Same," Elena and Ceci chorus.
"Me, too. Flaca, my besties, Raiza, and Mami are the most awesome people en mi vida," Maritza adds.
Raiza bounces in her seated position. "I love Mami and mi hermana and all my friends and my favorite dolly ever, Dora!"
"Me, too!" Christina squeals.
"Yay!" Eva cheers, clapping her little hands.
Daya scoops up Armaria and gives her a kiss on her cheek. She gazes fondly at Adarsh, who's finishing his silly game with the boys. "I gotta go with my sister. My family and friends are most important to me. I can sketch all of us, but it might take a long time."
"That's okay!" Debbie grins.
Daya gets to work and most of the others follow suit. Maritza assumes that Adarsh has never known trauma, but he's just there with Daya for support. It's so sweet. Christina, Benny, Julio, Benji, Laronne, and Raiza draw stick figures that represent those whom they adore and Eva scribbles on her sheet. Amaria continues exploring around the room and playing with toys as Aleida moves Lucy's stroller back and forth with her feet.
"Okay, great job!" Debbie says when they're all finished. "Beautiful artwork. Now..." She puts her hands together. "I've spoken with your moms and Laronne's dad, who said you've been through some pretty scary stuff. Does anyone want to talk about it?"
Christina puts her hand up. "Me, me, me!" No one else seems to want to go, so Debbie lets her be the first to speak. The little girl puts her arm around her brother's shoulders. "Our mommy was doing gross stuff with a really bad man!" Her eyes are big and round.
"Yeah, he was always mean to us," Emilano joins in. Aleida looks on guiltily. She lowers her gaze, embarrassed.
"'Cause he's dangerous," Daya mutters. "He pulled a gun on us as a threat to force us to behave."
"He made me cry!" Eva pouts, nestling into Daya's embrace.
"I'm sorry, babies..." Aleida tells her kids sincerely. "I'll never let him come near you again!"
"That happened to us, too," Julio pipes up sadly.
"I was trying to protect Mommy from the bad guy hitting her, but he got me instead!" Benny says.
Gloria nods, appearing to be pale and distressed. "Lo siento, mijo..." She glances over at Debbie, who's frowning in worry along with the others. "Benny was sitting on my lap when Arturo, my ex, approached me...my son stood up and tried to block that monster from striking me, but Arturo hurt us both anyway. That's when I finally decided to leave." She gestures to her daughters, who have been quiet for almost ten minutes. "Elena y Ceci...I hope you can forgive me someday, too...I know I made stupid mistakes, but I had such good intentions, I promise...I just waited too long to invite you to live with me. Lo siento mucho, mis amores."
"We all do dumb things," Elena mumbles. "Gracias por tu disculpa."
Thank you for your apology.
Ceci lets Flaca put her hair in a half pony. "Sí, gracias."
Gloria breathes out a sigh of relief and beams tearfully at them. "De nada."
"¿Quieres contarle sobre...ya sabes?" Maritza whispers, shooting Flaca a quizzical glance.
Do you want to tell her about ... you know?
Flaca shakes her head no. "Es solo entre tú, yo, nuestras amigas y mi familia."
It's only between you, me, our friends, and my family.
Maritza nods in understanding. She turns her attention to Debbie. "Can I say somethin', though? I gotta get it off my chest."
"Sure!" Debbie allows.
She takes a deep inhale and blows it out. "We were a picture perfect family, living the American dream, on the outside. Every woman was so jealous of my mom, she had a breadwinner husband, rich, handsome, kind, and powerful. All the kids in our neighborhood loved Dean because he acted so playful and friendly with them. He tried to fool me and Raiza, but we saw through his facade. We heard the screaming, yelling, insults, crashing of glass, and of course, the bruises, split lips, bleeding gashes, and black eyes she always sported and had to cover up. He tried not to break her bones since he'd have to go to the hospital, lie, say she fell down the stairs. We begged them to stop arguing, but they wouldn't, and it was all his fault.
"He'd make Halloween so terrifying that we didn't want to go trick or treating. We were scared into helping Mami pass out candy...from a huge, fake jail cell dressed as inmates! He was either a KKK member or a reeeeeally spooky clown, the one from IT. On other late evenings, he'd take us all to a creepy dirt road or an abandoned ride in the middle of nowhere, be like, 'Oh whoops, this isn't it...', pretending he was gonna take us to the fair at night...then he laughed evilly and told us to imagine that it was Halloween in July. He told us scary stories, even when me and Raiza were whimpering in our mama's lap. Sometimes, I have nightmares of us being taken away from her and then we're forced to scrub floors and wash windows in a smelly, dark orphanage.
"Dean threw a remote control at the television while Raiza was watching Dora with Mami...he always used to scare Raiza as an infant and make her cry...he locked Mama out of the room so she couldn't go to my sis...and he'd do this when I was a bebécita, too. We're both automatically scared of yelling, even if someone's just hollering at the television, like during a game." Maritza sniffles as Raiza crawls over to her. She rubs her budding tears out of her eyes and blinks rapidly as she looks around the sea of equally emotional faces.
"Yeah, he's the monster under my bed!" the tiny girl pipes up and then sucks her thumb.
"That's why we appreciate Diablo...he never raises his voice, not even if the referee makes a bad call or the Giants lose or whatever. In fact, they didn't even get into the Super Bowl, and he'd complain, but...it wasn't like, earth-shatteringly loud." Maritza smiles at him and he returns the gesture. "Muchas gracias for being careful with us."
"De nada."
Blanca gazes at him proudly and they kiss. Everyone watches as she waves Maritza and Raiza over and gathers them in a warm group hug. On either side of her, Karla and Gloria scoot over slightly to make room for the girls. "Ay nenas, mamá lo siente mucho..."
Oh, babies, Mama's so sorry...
"It's okay, Mami," Raiza chirps.
"Yeah, we're not mad at you, no te preocupes," Maritza chimes in.
don't worry
"You all have an incredible amount of courage," Debbie praises the kids and teens after no one seems to want to say anything else. "I wish that none of you had to face those vile beasts...I'm so very sorry you did, along with your mothers." She gestures to the adults. "It looks like you have strong support systems, so that's wonderful! You all did a brilliant job on your first day of therapy. I'm really proud." She holds her hands out for high-fives, but only the small ones smack her palms. Maritza, Flaca, Elena, Ceci, Daya, and Adarsh simply beam back at her.
On the subway ride back from therapy, they're jiggling in their seats as the train rumbles along. Blanca, Diablo, Maritza, Laronne, Raiza, Flaca, Karla, Ramón, Benji, Gloria, Benny, Julio, Elena, and Ceci have all decided to take it both ways because the families live right near each other. The Diazes have gone in their own car, Aleida's black SUV. They're accompanied by Debbie and Nita.
"How come Lei didn't get behind the wheel?" Blanca can't help but ask. "She had a blue car in high school...I know she can drive."
"I made a new plan with her...someone has to take her places and bring her back home so she doesn't go off and get drugs or find slingers," Gloria responds.
"You really don't trust her, even when she's got kids in the car?"
"Blanca, it's not like they can stop her. She needs to get used to not being able to access drugs," Karla points out. She rises and groans. "Tengo que ir al baño...otra vez."
I have to go to the bathroom…again.
"Iré contigo," Blanca tells her. They link arms and go into an empty subway car where there's a bathroom.
I'll go with you.
Blanca waits for Karla to finish up in there. Once she gets out and the subway comes to a halt, the next station is announced. Karla wipes her slightly wet hands off on her jeans. Blanca thinks that a baby near them is crying loudly, but it could be just her imagination running wild. She's glad she's not hearing things, though, because Karla seems to perceive the sound, too.
The best friends share a confused, worried glance. The shorter of the two heads toward a purple and yellow floral patterned blanket that's been left under a seat. They wouldn't have noticed it if the infant hadn't been making any noise. People leave their belongings on public transportation occasionally.
Karla kneels down and picks up the poor little angel who's wailing at the top of her lungs. Blanca stands behind them and covers her mouth in shock, feeling a strange sense of deja vu. "Bebécita, you're okay now," Karla murmurs, holding her close, rubbing her back in calming circles, and rocking her. She's in a blue long-sleeved dress decorated with tiny polka dots and also wearing black tights and pink booties. Karla strokes the infant's thin, wavy black hair and then her chubby cheek. She checks for any form of identification, but finds none. "No name, I'm guessing she's one or two months old," she murmurs, peering over her shoulder at Blanca. "Some asshole abandoned her...she's probably famished, or cold, or scared...a combo of all three, maybe. They didn't even bother to swaddle her...or leave a note."
"Got a healthy set of lungs, that one," Blanca says. "Hopefully that means she's not sick. What the fuck kind of cruel bastard would do this?!" A lump forms in her throat and she forcefully swallows it down.
"Yeah...she's trembling a bit, though. Lo sé...I'll breastfeed her just in case before we bring her down to the station. She looks like a Vanessa to me. What do you think?"
Blanca smiles. "Es hermosa."
"Okay. Vanessa it is." Her eyes glistening, Karla quickly sits down with Vanessa in one arm and unzips her light pink jacket with her other hand.
"I'll let the rest of our group know," Blanca informs her.
"Gracias." Karla flashes her a smile and lifts her white shirt. She reaches into her bra cup and Blanca averts her gaze. "Hola, Vanesita…I'm gonna feed you now, okay?" As she exits, she turns to see Karla using the baby blanket to cover herself and little Vanessa, who's cooing now as she sucks hungrily, reminding Blanca of how she'd met Maritza for the first time.
Thank you for reviewing, MsScheeheide and Juliette45!