UnBroken

Eva left just in time, as more tears strolled down her face it started to pour outside. She felt she could cry without worrying about other people’s gaze until she gets to her bus stop; partly because of the rain as it would excuse her wet cheeks but also because she’s usually very discreet and can’t be noticed easily. She knew she could always hide well in a crowd, and this crowded 112 bus she was about to embark on was just what she needed. “Here’s the perfect place for me to zone out until I get home to deal with more bullsh*t, I better cover my hair with a head wrap before he calls me a bald headed b*tch again,” she thinks. Unfortunately for her; few stops after she got on the bus, while there was still half of the way up, the bus but needed to stop abruptly and evacuate all the passengers. Leaving her to walk home alone, in this industrial area of the city as the sun was setting. At least she got a chance to cover her half-braided head she said to herself. As a woman walking alone on these streets she felt a bit safer because she was dressed very loose thought she could pass as a man as long as they don't get too close. She’s still scared because it's getting dark soon and this very quiet area felt like the perfect place to dump a body. None the less she refused to let that get to her head, so she flew into a childhood memory to escape her nocturne journey home:

“Promise you’re gonna catch me! OKAY? Catch me ! I’M GONNA JUMP.”

“Eva what are you doing up there ?” Yells Sarah from her bedroom that was on the 2nd floor of the 4 story building.

“ It’s okay I got her” Answers Melody, their mother, who’s on the ground with her arm stretched.

“MOM WAIT! DON’T! EVA! NO!” Screamed Sarah from her window, and left immediately to rescue her sister. She got to ground level and told Eva to back up and not to jump under any circumstance. She told her mother to stop with recklessness and got her sitting on a chair distracted by a glass of wine. Sarah went to see the handyman that lived in their building she begged him for a ladder which he immediately provided when he saw what was happening outside. He helped Sarah get to Eva with a quickness and helped carried their drunken mother to bed. Eva remembers the embrace her sister gave her once they were both on the ground. The poor kid was only 3 years old, even if she didn’t know what could’ve happened if she fell from that three she could still feel the danger and the relief after being up there for what felt like hours. Eva remembers that feeling of safety when she could just run to her sister for help.

The sky has cleared up while Eva was reminiscing about being taken care of and loved as every child should. She felt guilty about all the things she had previously said, she figured she could always stop by the next day to apologize. For now, she was worried about what she was hearing as she got closer to her house. Loud music, men’s voices, some banging and metal sounds, she figured her fiance was probably working at the garage, with his friends so she uses the back door instead of the front one. To her surprise, no one was there. She kept going, trying to follow where the noise came from, but it was not coming from her house clearly, it was empty, even Ray, who’s always home, wasn’t there. She called him a few times but he didn't pick up. So she decided to continue to follow the noise, out of curiosity. It was her neighbors that were having a party, she assumed Ray must’ve joined them because he’s always there for free booze and free food.

“Maria! Have you seen Ray?” asked Eva Eager to be held by her lover after this terrible day.

“ No chiquita, want a cold one you seem like you could use it?” Offered Juan’s wife while handing him a cold one as he continues talking with his friends.

“No Maria, that won’t be necessary, but I would appreciate some water if you have some.”

“Of course, I’ll be right with you have a seat.”

Eva does as she is told, pulls out a chair, and takes a breath for the first time in a while. She didn’t want to be at a party, but she didn’t want to be alone either, she figured chitchatting with her neighbor would be nice compared to driving around the city to look for Ray like she usually does when he's MIA. She figured wasn’t going to tire herself out even more. She already felt drained by the exchange she had with Sarah, she was just trying to relax. Maria comes back and she sits next to Eva with two tall glasses filled with ice water:

- So, amorsita, tell me? What’s going on? Is it Ray again?

- No, not this time.

- So why the long face?

- I had a huge argument with my sister and I don’t want to talk about it because I know I’m wrong for what I said and I don’t need to be judged right now.

- Why would I ever Judge you dearest, no body’s perfect.

- I know Maria, I know. Thank you, I just... I can’t I’m exhausted. I wanted to ask, do you think your Na na would have time to do my hair? It’s late I know I would pay for it in full and tip if she can finish the rest of my cornrows. I’ll just rock a wig on top of it I can’t let him see me like this.

- Sure Eva I’ll ask.

Maria leaves to ask her Na na if she can and luckily for Eva she said yes.

Na na treats her to the salon that was in the basement. It seems like She just wanted an excuse to leave the party and Eva gave her the best reason to do so. She got her a cap and installed her in front of the vanity mirror. Eva looked at herself and she saw how busted she looked. She couldn't hold it in anymore so she cried. Na na knew exactly what to do; she took her in her arms and held her close to her heart as Eva sobbed about everything that was going on in an inarticulate monologue Na na understood little about. After saying what was in her chest she broke down even more. But once she caught a glance at herself in the mirror she felt instantly embarrassed because this was the first time in her adult life crying in front of someone that wasn't family. The warm embrace Na na gave her while tears were still running down her face space was the nicest thing she felt in a while. Finally, she could be vulnerable and truly catch her breath. After minutes of that therapeutic exchange, Eva wiped her tears and blew her nose. Na na helped clean her face with cold water. Her soft cold wrinkled hands on her warm skin felt like everything Eva missed about being a child. Na na held her face for a while with her hands, looked deep in her eyes, and said: “You’re beautiful never forget that!”.

“ MARIAAAA!” Called Na na

“SI !” Answered her grandkid

“ DOWNSTAIRS! ” Ordered the elder.

Maria Came down with a drink in her hand. She saw her friend and she thought to herself: “ I’ve seen her have better days but she looks better than when she arrived.” She smiled gently and turned to her Na na offering assistance, she asked: “what can I do to help.” She and her Na na exchanged a few stairs and that was enough for Maria to understand what was expected of her. She went up straight to her room and pulled out; a vintage-looking, orange, maxi, dress, a beautiful voluptuous blond Afro wig, some makeup, and a big pair of golden hoops to top it all off. She came down with the goods and her grandma was pleased with what she brought. They encouraged Eva to have fun and embrace her beauty, by experimenting with a different style than she normally wouldn’t dare. “ My, my ,my! You look sexy, a man could not resist you if he tried.” Affirmed Na na. “ Thanks a lot, y’all have no idea how much I needed this ” Respond Eva while hugging the both of them tightly.

“ Let’s have a drink to celebrate!” proposed Maria “ Okay but you make sure mine has no ice you know how these upset my teeth.” Answered Na na “No objection to that” added Eva.

As the three women were all enjoying themselves in the basement Eva forgot to check her phone as frequently as she usually does. Ray tried calling her multiple times, she couldn’t feel her phone buzzing because she was getting tipsy for the first time, she did not hear it ring because of the music. She knew she was in good hands and getting home wasn’t going to be a problem since it was so close. She danced, she laughed and enjoyed herself while her boyfriend was waiting home getting angrier by the minute. He called some more times and texted her many more times, while also leaving horrible voicemails threatening to change locks. Ignorance is bliss, Eva still hadn’t checked her phone until it was about midnight and they heard loud shouting and signs of a struggle coming from upstairs. Eva immediately went to her phone because she felt she recognized the voice that was causing the most chaos. "Oh no!" she exclaims while viewing all the missed calls and tons of text messages all coming from Ray. She didn’t need to open any of them to know they were filled with insults as he usually does when she does not respond. Her heart started beating fast she didn’t wanna cause drama at her neighbor’s house but she was also afraid of what was going to happen if he saw her here tonight. Na na recognized the terror in Eva’s face. She wanted to help her escape fast before he finds her here but they heard him kick the door open and make his way downstairs. It’s a matter of seconds before he sees me here “acting like a hoe” thought Eva. Maria was visibly nervous, she prayed for her friend, and kissed her hand when Eva suddenly got pulled away...