Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“Alejandro...” She coughed up blood, her body convulsing in my arms.
I held her closer, kissing all over her bloody face. “Shhh… Mamá… shhh… it’s okay…” I cried with trembling lips. Caressing her face with the knuckles of my hand.
“I love you, mi bebe para siempre,” she quivered, “My baby forever.”
I shivered, my chest locking up, hyperventilating from bawling so fucking hard. My eyes blurred with tears, barely allowing me to see her face.
“I’ll never see you get married. I’ll never get to see your babies and spoil them,” she choked out, struggling to place her hand over my heart. “You protect and take care of your sister, and I’ll always protect and take care of you. I’ll always be with you, mi bebe. He- here,” she said between gasps, setting her hand on my heart.
I fervently nodded, taking her hand. Kissing it. Letting my trembling lips linger along her barely beating pulse.
Chaos was all around us. Bodyguards held in their earpieces, yelling orders. Bystanders still ducked behind cars. Sirens were getting closer and closer.
“Somebody help me! Please! Someone fucking help me!” I looked back down at her, grabbing the back of her head, holding her right against my chest. Trying to keep her body from shaking while it shattered in my arms. She trembled faster and harder, vibrating against my core. Tucking her face under my chin, I cradled her in my shaking embrace. Rocking her back and forth. “You’re going to be okay, Mamá. The bodyguards. They’re getting help. Help is on the way. You hear those sirens. They’re coming… You’re fine. You’re going to be okay. Just hold on, okay… Please, Mamá. I’m begging you. Just hold on... Please don’t leave me… Don’t leave me… I love you… I love you so much. Please! Please God… Don’t do this. Don’t do this to me!”
She sucked in a few breaths, gasping for more air.
“Shhh… I got you. It’s okay… you’re going to be okay...” I closed my eyes, remembering the last time I saw her happy. We were dancing with Sophia. She was laughing. She was smiling. She was breathing. She was so full of life. I didn’t know how to comfort her so I started humming her favorite lullaby, the very one she used to sing to us when we were kids, “Me Niños Bonitos.”
Her body went lax.
I was losing her.
“Mamá,” I whispered, my body suddenly shaking profusely. “Mamá,” I repeated, slowly pulling her away from my chest.
Her mouth was hanging open and her eyes no longer held the light they used to.
I shut my eyes, clutching her tight in my grasp along my chest. “NO! NO! NO!” I screamed till my throat burned and my chest ached. Bawling like a newborn baby. “NO! NO! PLEASE, GOD, NO! TAKE ME! FUCKING TAKE ME! I’M HERE! TAKE ME!”
I was at a loss.
Silently cursing God. Hoping that this was a nightmare I would soon wake up from. A God-awful fucking dream.
Something…
Anything…
Other than what was actually happening.
I laid her down on the pavement. Pinching her nose closed and breathing into her blue lips. Her chest rose. “One, two, three,” I pumped my hands against her blood-soaked chest. “No! Stay with me! Fucking stay with me!” Blowing into her mouth again. “One, two, three. No! No! No!” I sobbed, my body convulsing as I took in the body of my dead mother in front of me.
Bowing my head in shame.
At that moment, I would have sold my soul to the Devil if it meant that it would bring her back. I sat up on my knees, looking up at the sky with my hands out in front of me.
“I HATE YOU! DO YOU FUCKING HEAR ME! I FUCKING HATE YOU!” I bellowed to the Lord above for taking my mother away from me.
I took in my surroundings. Through my tunneled vision, I saw shadowy figures running toward the scene. Yelling incoherent words. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Amari and Sophia come into focus. Amari was fighting off the guards, trying to run toward me. Sophia stood frozen in place, in shock. The roles from that night so many years ago were now reversed.
“Alejandro! What are you doing?! Fucking save her! Do something! You’re letting her die! You better not let her die," she screamed, flailing in the guard’s arms. Reaching her hands out, pleading. "Please don’t let her die! You need to do something! Bring her back! Bring her fucking back!” she hysterically wailed, escaping the guard's grasp and falling to her knees. Breaking down in front of me.
My stomach dropped. My heart was now in my throat, bile rising, but I swallowed it back down. Sophia had a look of horror on her face, taking in the gore that looked like a scene out of a horror film. Amari continued to sob so fucking hard, her fragile frame heaving for breath. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t go comfort them. I couldn’t look them in the eyes, knowing I failed them.