Survival

Emotions

'Have your fun with her and get rid of her. I don't need a Negro,' the man said and I saw red. He looked no more different from all of them. He was tall with a well built body and his dark hair was lined with gray here and there. He had these piercing green eyes that seemed to look deep into your soul.

'I have more important things to attend to,' he continued staring at me with pure disgustthat he didn't even try to hide.

I looked at the guys and Antonio stepped forward. He spoke to the older man in Spanish and I looked at Alejandro for help.  He seemed to be the nicest in the group towards me.

'Shh keep quiet! I'm trying to listen,' he shushed me and I sighed.

As they spoke, I felt the man throwing death glares at me now and then.  But then again it's better than being held captive isn't it?

After a while of heated discussion in a language I barely understood, the man turned with smile that seemed so false.

'Welcome to the family. If you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to. The boys will help you adjust,' he said and walked briskly towards the door we entered.

An awkward silence hung in the room and I rocked back and forth on my heels. I looked at all of them searching for a sign of approval but I guess people rarely made friends with people who threatened to kill them with a gun.

'You stink muchacha. When last did you bathe,' Fernando said breaking the silence as I felt heat crawl up my neck in embarrassment.

'I dunno,' I said drawing patterns with my feet.

'What do you mean?' Arturo said speaking for the first time and I proceeded to tell them my sad tale as we went out of the room.

We left the building and we took the streets again. They listened to me without interruptions as we walked back.

I had a bad feeling towards this man who had just called me family but a girl can only hope.

*****

He sat on his table sorting out files.  There were just too many things running round his head that needed his attention.

He was working too hard these days only to go home and drown himself in booze.  He felt lonely, much lonlier than he had felt when Alex (his wife)  died.

Ariel had called but he wasn't able to pick. He felt like a bad father. All of a sudden he felt like he had lost them both again.

His heart clenched in pain and he shook his head to stop the tears as the lump in his throat grew causing him pain.

A time when Ariel needed him the most, he let her down again.  He wasn't there for her instead he was having his way with her friend.

He dumped the files and put his hands on his head.  Tears threatened to fall from his red eyes but he wouldn't let them.

Knock Knock

He hissed. Who was that again? He looked up at the intruder who didn't even bother to wait for a response.

A-ha the she devil was here again.  As Meg strode in with red puffy eyes.

'I can't think straight,' she said and he groaned. When was she going to leave again? He looked at his expensive Rolex and then at the door sending a very clear message that she should leave.

But either she didn't understand or she chose to ignore cause she pulled out a seat and sat down before speaking.

He slumped back in his seat as he groaned but again she didn't even spare him a glance.