I felt a pair of eyes on me. Just eyes. Then I focused in on this zombie like creaturethat was coming toward me. He walked with a slight limp. He stopped and adjusted theband that was tied around his arm before he continued to walk forward. I felt like I hadjust walked into a zombie’s den. I tried to turn around to escape, to get the fuck out ofthis apartment building when the woman spoke to me again.
“How much money you got?” she asked. Her lipstick was smudged and stained herteeth.
“Three hundred dollars.” I was a terrible liar. I didn’t have much practice living witha nun for thirteen years. My legs began to quiver.
“Show it to me,” she said moving toward me and holding out her hand. I swalloweda knot of fear. I didn’t know what to do. I closed my eyes and jumped when I heard aloud thud. I turned around and saw that the apartment door had been flung open with somuch force that it cracked the drywall. Maria was standing in the doorway, fuming like abattered beast.
“Get out of here.” Her words rumbled through the air like thunder. Quickly, I rushedpast her, out the door and into the hallway. I didn’t want to be anywhere near Maria inthis state. I knew that she had worked herself into a frenzy. Her rage would be like thewild winds of a tornado, twisting and turning until it killed everything in sight. I randown the stairs, lost my footing and slid on my behind to the bottom landing. I looked upthe stairway. I couldn’t see anything and all I could hear was bodies tumbling, knockinginto walls, overturning tables.
“Mi Amor, are you okay?” The smelly nasty homeless man was gone. In his placewas a man in his early forties, distinguished, clean-shaven, and incredibly suave. Hereached out his hand and helped me up.
“You speak Spanish?” I asked.
“Of course, I am from Old San Juan—
“Puerto Rico.” I exclaimed.
“Te cagaste del miedo,” he said with his eyes sparkling.
I had never been so scared before in my entire life. I laughed because I needed torelease all of the tension that had built up inside of me. Nelly, I have to admit that hewasn’t the best looking man in the world. But living with Sister Abigail for thirteen yearswas like serving a prison sentence, no sex, no fun, and no men. There was somethingabout him. He knew exactly what to say to me, and he made me feel good.
“Leaving the party early?” he joked, raising an eyebrow.
I giggled covering my mouth, trying to ignore the ruckus that was coming from thetop of the stairs.
“Maria, leave her alone.”
“No! I am going to kill the bitch,” she screamed.
He looked up to the top of the landing and then back at me. He smiled.
“Maria always knew how to throw a party,” he said. “Or how to ruin one.” I added.
“Let me guess. She’s looking for Nico again?” “Yes, how did you know?”
“She’s out looking for him every damn week,” he said. “Oh.” I looked down at myfeet. I felt like a fool.
“Did she drag you into this?” He asked.
I looked away and shook my head.
“Oh no, she’s gone way too far now,” he said shaking his head in disbelief.
“I don’t know what to do,” I said timidly. I was totally lost and felt like I needed afriend, someone to confide in, and someone to trust.
“Come with me,” he said.
I hesitated. Sister Abigail had told me that Spanish men were feigns for lust. Theywere like vampires with a thirst that could never be quenched.
“I’m not going to do anything to hurt you. I just want to walk you outside to thisphone booth so you can call home,” he said.
I looked down at my hands and realized that I couldn’t go back home. I had gonedown the wrong path and there was no turning back. A part of me wanted to believe inMaria. Another part, just wanted to ball up and disappear forever.
“Is there something wrong?” He asked with genuine concern. I shook my head andtried not to cry. “I don’t have a home.” I said.
“Okay, don’t cry, come with me,” he said grabbing my hand. “No, I can’t I have towait for Maria,” I said.
“I just want you to be able to weigh your options, and if we come back and Maria’snot here. I’ll take you home, promise,” he said.
“You know where she lives?” I asked. I was just a little skeptical.
“I know everyone in that whole neighborhood. Roberto, the twins, little Julio,” hesaid.
“You do?” I asked.
“Yes, they’re my family,” he said smiling.
“I am sorry, but I didn’t catch your name,” I said. He took my hands in his, lookedme deep in the eyes before he replied. “Alijondro. Alijondro Reyes,” he said smiling.
Alijondro Reyes, I whispered to myself. There was a brief rush of excitement thatexploded through my body and reddened my face. I felt like I was the damsel in distressand Alijondro was my Spanish night in armor. He had come, almost out of nowhere tosave me from a dodgy and perilous city. At that very moment, I knew that he had workedhis charm on me.
He ordered me coffee and a full dinner. I devoured it in less than ten minutes,realizing that I hadn’t eaten anything all day. I was surprised of how rich the food tasted.
“Hungry?” He asked.
I shook my head and wiped
