This section is from Maria's perspective.
After settling the kids down and saying my evening prayers from memory, I lay next to Rosalina. She mumbled something. I leaned closer and realized she was talking in her sleep.
I laid my head on the bed and closed my eyes. Trying to calm my anxiety and readiness for danger.
Without warning, my eyelids fluttered open to the cacophony of birdsong outside. Dawn had broken, casting a soft glow through the thin curtains. I lay there for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest as I expected the gunshots that had haunted the nights since the lights went out. But nothing came.
The past week of terror, with every gunshot, every shout, every scream, made me be on edge.
"Dear God," I whispered, blinking in disbelief. "I didn't wake up even once." The realization hit me like a ton of bricks: I'd grown used to the chaos so quickly. But here, in this place of peace, maybe my children and I could find sanctuary.
"Thank you, Lord," I murmured, my smile widening at the thought of safety for my family.
I tried to get up as quietly as possible, but Rosalina stirred, bolting upright.
"Is it morning?" she asked, panting and looking around in confusion.
"Good morning," I replied softly. "I'm not sure what time it is now or what time we should go to Ivan and Tsu's house. But I'm getting up."
Rosalina nodded and stretched, her joints popping like popcorn. "I'll join you. I don't have anything to do. I really hope they fix the power soon, and I don't get fired." She sat up with a grunt. "I also hope Tome is doing okay as well."
I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The floorboards were cool beneath my feet as I padded across the room and pulled back the curtain slightly, letting the morning light seep in.
"Me too, sis," I said, my voice tinged with worry. I knelt for my morning prayers as Rosalina left for the bathroom.
"Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo..." I whispered, each word a plea for protection and guidance in these uncertain times.
I stood and whispered to myself, "Time to face the day," I got ready and took a deep breath before stepping into the hallway. The cabin was quiet, and my children were still fast asleep in their rooms. I felt grateful for the opportunity to gather my thoughts before the chaos of the day unfolded.
In the kitchen, I found Gabriela sitting by the window, her knees drawn to her chest. She gazed out at the serene landscape beyond, her face etched with worry.
"Good morning, Mija," I said softly, approaching her. Her tear-streaked cheeks and dark circles under her eyes made my heart ache.
"Are you okay?" I asked, concern etched in my voice. Gabriela shook her head, her lip quivering.
"No, but yes," she whispered, turning back to the window. "I'm just worried about being here... and leaving there... and everything that has changed and..."
I approached Gabriela, my heart aching at the sight of her tear-streaked face and the dark circles under her eyes. She was still just a child, trying to cope with the weight of the world that had been thrust upon her. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, holding her close as I whispered, "It will be okay, mija. I think this is the safest for us until everything goes back to normal. For now...for now, let's just do our best to live and make a life."
She nodded, her brown eyes searching mine for reassurance, standing up and wiping her tears away. "I'll be ready to go soon. Let me know when it's time." I watched her walk away, my heart cracking in my chest as I saw my baby girl so distraught.
"Everything will be all right," I whispered to myself, forcing a smile to my face as my soul cried. I turned back to the window, looking around. The sun had risen higher, casting its golden light across the peaceful scene before me.
With a sigh, I stepped out onto the porch to wait for Rosalina and Gabriela, trying to push aside the worry that consumed me. The morning air was crisp, and I breathed it in deeply, taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of the lake before me.
"Good morning," a gruff voice startled me, causing me to shriek and spin around. Derrick sat on the rocking chair at the other end of the patio, his large frame dwarfing the wooden seat. "Derick...mijo..." I stammered, trying to regain control of my racing heart. "How did you sleep?"
He smiled like a fox, rubbing his stubbled chin. "Strangely, the best and worst in a while." His eyes held a weariness.
"Ah, mojo," I said softly, turning back to the lake.
"Maria," Derrick began, his voice low and hesitant. "You think we made the right choice?"
The door flung open with a loud creak, and Rosalina and Gabriela stood there, their faces pale. Rosalina's hand gripped a knife tightly, ready to take on an unseen threat. She hushed and screamed, her eyes darting between me and Derrick, "What's going on?"
"Ah mija," I stammered, trying to find the words, but Derrick beat me to it.
"I said good morning, and she got scared," he explained, his voice calm.
Gabriela and Rosalina jumped at the sound of his voice, just like I did earlier. I chuckled, and Derrick joined in. For a man of his size, he really shouldn't be so sneaky.
"Are you two ready to go?" I asked, my laughter subsiding.
Gabriela and Rosalina nodded, still slightly shaken. Rosalina glanced down at the knife in her hand, "Hang on, I'll put this away." She disappeared back into the house, leaving me alone with Derrick and Gabriela.
"Think we should get Mr. and Mrs. Allen?" I asked Derrick, my gaze flickering towards their cabin.
A glint of resentment flashed in his eyes as he tilted his head. "Probably not," he said, his voice low. "Don't want to give Ivan and Tsu extra reasons to turn on us... But probably going to get Mr. Allen a bit later in the day."
I nodded, understanding his concerns. The last thing we needed was to create unnecessary tension in our new community. "Let's go then," I motioned towards Ivan and Tsu's house, my heart pounding in my chest in contradiction to the confidence of my body posture.
"Ma," Gabriela whispered, her voice barely audible as she walked alongside me. "Do you think things will ever be normal again?"
I glanced at her, my heart aching for my children. They deserved so much better than this. "I don't know, Mija," I admitted, my voice heavy with sadness. "But we'll do our best to make a life here, no matter what. At least until we can go back home."
"Promise?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for reassurance.
"Promise," I replied, squeezing her hand gently.
We arrived at the back porch of Ivan and Tsu's house, the morning sun casting long shadows on the wooden planks. It looked a lot more friendly and pleasant than it had looked in the dusk of last night. I knocked on the door, feeling a bit self-conscious about our timing. No one answered, and I looked at Derrick, who had taken up his usual protective stance behind us.
"Maybe we should just sit around and wait? Or go knock on the front door?" he offered, his voice low and cautious.
Before I could answer, the door swung open, revealing Tsu with her hair tied up in a messy bun and an apron around her waist. "Oh, you rise early," she said, her eyes flicking between us. "Breakfast isn't ready yet."
I smiled at her, trying to ease my own tension. "We came to help."
"Sure," she said, stepping aside to let us in. "Eggs, bacon, and flatbread good for everyone?"
"Sounds perfect," I replied, following her into the warm, inviting outdoor kitchen.
As we got to work preparing breakfast, the atmosphere remained tense but slowly warmed up. With the little ones not here, I answered Tsu's questions more openly, detailing the events that had led us here.
Derrick chimed in, explaining how the Allens were attacked and how he had to defend them before coming to my home for safety. He recounted the day we arrived in this town when a group of people attacked our apartment, injuring dozens. Derrick had protected our lives once again, but it was clear that the violence outside had left its mark on all of us.
Tsu's face grew dark as we shared stories of marauding bands looting stores and fighting each other in the streets. "So that's what Ivan went through..." she trailed off, her gaze drifting to a picture on the wall.
I glanced over at the family photo – Tsu, Ivan, and what I assumed were their three children, along with an Asian-looking man and an old couple. I suddenly felt like an intruder, privy to a part of their lives that we had no right to know. I decided not to ask about it just yet.
"Thank you for sharing your stories," Tsu said finally, breaking the silence. "It's important for us to understand each other if we're going to make this work."
I nodded, appreciating her willingness to listen despite the obvious pain our words had caused her. We continued cooking in silence, the sizzle of bacon filling the kitchen. It was a small comfort, being able to do something as simple and familiar as making breakfast.
"Alright, I'll go gather everyone." I nodded to Tsu, who was busying herself with the last of the breakfast preparations. Derrick leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed over his broad chest. "I'll stay here and wait. Yell if you need help."
"Will do," I murmured and slipped out of the warm kitchen, feeling the chill in the air as I stepped onto the porch. The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, casting an eerie glow on the dew-covered grass.
First, I made my way to the Allen's cabin. The morning light filtered through the trees, making patterns on the ground that danced as the leaves swayed gently in the breeze. As I approached their door, I hesitated for a moment before raising my hand to knock. The sound echoed through the otherwise quiet morning.
"Breakfast is ready," I called softly, not wanting to startle anyone inside. Mr. Allen's voice came through the door, muffled but clear: "I'll be there shortly. Thank you."
"Of course," I replied, turning to head back toward our own cabin. The morning seemed brighter, the sun climbing higher in the sky.
"Come on, Sofia, Michel, Emma," I called as I entered our cabin. "Let's eat." Sofia, embracing the role of an older sister, had already dressed the younger Allen children and was keeping them occupied with a game of cards. She looked up at me and smiled.
"Thanks, Mom. We'll be right there." Sofia smiled faintly before gathering the children and ushering them toward the door.
As I walked back toward Ivan and Tsu's house, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. My heart raced, my breath caught in my throat. I glanced around, searching for the source of my unease.
"Morning, Maria." Gattor's voice came from the driveway, his casual tone entirely at odds with the tension in my chest. I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my relief that it was just him.
"Good morning," I replied, forcing a smile. "What brings you here?"
"Well, I promised to get some meat as payment for your living here. And we need to talk about how to do that. And Tsu always makes way more food than a group needs, so I invited myself to breakfast." Gattor grinned, revealing a missing tooth.
I shook my head at the boldness of this man.