Bloom

I can hear your voice now.

“Aye Leche, when are you going to leave the nest and spread those beautiful wings nieta! You’re starting to make me feel like I’m the young and fruitful one.” you say followed by your unique yet lovable laugh as you sit on the edge of my bed.

“Abuela, you know I’m occupied with work; I don’t have the time for pointless outings.” I reply focused intensely on my laptop.

“Ha, but you sure do have the batteries for that little toy of yours. Loud thing kept me up throughout half of the night.”

“ABUELA!” I yell slightly embarrassed, turning around in my desk chair. “Ugh why didn’t you say anything!”

“Hey, you sounded like you were enjoying yourself I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Oh my god, yea this conversation is over.” placing my face in my palms.

“Look mi amor all I’m saying is that, after your mama passed you started working yourself to death. It’s unhealthy and I just want you to fully experience life before it’s taken away, cause you know it's unpredictable.”

Unfortunately, nothing you said was a lie. When mama passed, I gained tunnel vision on trying to maintain the estate, however, I also was concerned about you as well. You lost your only child and one of the few close family we have left. I felt that I had to make sure that I could not only provide for and take care of myself but you as well. You deserved it, for taking care of us.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and this estate, and I absolutely admire the strong, devoted woman you’ve grown into Leche, but now it’s time for you to bloom nieta.” she says as she pulls something from her bag I bought a few birthdays ago.

“What’s this?” I ask as she hands it to me.

“It’s a flower that has yet to bloom, a Marigold to be exact.”

Just what I needed, a form of life to take care of.

“Abuela what is the point of this?”

“Well Marigolds usually represent happiness, joy, and optimism. They’re also used to guide the spirits to loved ones during Dia de las Muertos. This Marigold now represent you, beautiful potential ready to blossom and flourish. Once I’m gone, the only way I’ll be able to find you is if you successfully managed to bloom, as you and this flower are now connected.”

Although I figure she’s just rambling about, a strange feeling did come over me when the flower touched my hand, but I think nothing of it.

“Hmph, you old folks and your “juju”, but I hear what you’re saying. I promise I'll try to leave my comfort zone...one of these days.” I say in a sarcastic yet optimistic voice.

“You better! I'm not trying to get lost in the spirit world forever. Also, get you a real one nieta, that plastic is not gonna give you children to pass the wealth too!” she laughs.

“ABUELA!”

It crushed me when you passed days after that conversation.

I’m now lost and feel truly alone. Although many try to communicate with me, it’s never anybody I feel as connected with as I did with you. Surrounded by everything I can ask for and yet nothing can ever fill the void that was created once you left. Now I’m on the living room couch at the bottom of this wine bottle, staring at the still yet to bloom Marigold you gave me next to your urn of remains.

*Ding Dong! *

The loud bell startles me as I drop the wine bottle and it shatters on the floor.

“LECHE! ARE YOU OK?” a voice yells at the door followed by a series of panicked rings and knocks.

“Ah fuck, umm just a minute!” I slur loudly drunk off my ass. I quickly sweep the broken glass under the couch and hurry to the door to open it.

“Hey, are you o- “

“AHH!” I scream as I quickly shut the door. It’s Malik, a really good friend of mine who also happen to look really good. I’ve secretly been crushing on him ever since the surprising beginning of our friendship but the only person to know about that was my abuela. I quickly get myself together and reopen the door.

“Uhh, you good?” he asks in a confused and concerned manner.

“Whett, MEE? I’m fineee.”

“You sure? Your text kinda scared me with everything that’s going on right now. I rushed over as fast as I could!”

“My text?” I slur confused.

I instantly become even more embarrassed as he shows a text from me not too long ago.

HaY can u pleaze com over. I reale kneed someone?

“I figured you were drunk texting, but I had to check on you to make sure you were ok, and also to make sure that you didn’t actually knee a stranger or something.” he giggles.

“Oh my god, I’m so embarrassed. I didn’t mean to send that!”. To be honest I don’t even remember sending that message or using my phone.

“Well, they say the truth come out when you’re drunk. Mind if we talk for a bit, it’s been years since we had a genuine face to face?” he smiles showing his snowy white teeth. How could I reject?

“Of course!”

After escorting him into the living room we begin to talk. At first, I’m extremely shy as I’m drunk off my ass and can only imagine how I look to him or his silent judgements about me. However, I quickly become more open and comfortable as I begin to get the sense that he’s not judging or looking at me any type of way, rather he’s genuinely concerned about an old friend. It almost makes me feel bad for becoming somewhat of a ghost to him after my mom’s passing.

“You know Leche, being alone really isn’t healthy for you right now.”

“I know Malik but it’s still so much I have to get done and the work for me is just piling up-”

He rises up and extend his hand to me.

“First give me your phone, then give me your hand.”

“Malik what-”

“Now Leche!” he interrupts.

As I hand him my phone, he does a couple of swipes followed by a few taps and “Done!”

“Done what exactly?”

“I told your manager you need time off and that he won’t be hearing from you for a while cause you’re taking much needed vacation time.”

“Malik what the hell!”

“Leche, you have everything money can buy except for a healthy relationship and peace. It’s time for a change, now your hand please. I’m taking you out and you’re gonna enjoy yourself.” he says extending his hand.

“But what about- “

“It’s taken care of and if any problems occur then I’ll be the solution.”

I think about my career, then I think back to that conversation with my abuela.

“Fine, but lemme change first sheesh!” I joke as I grab his hand.

As we leave out, I glance back and notice that the Marigold is starting to bloom.