Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Nash was gone when I woke up later that evening. I had to tell myself that it wasn't a dream, that he'd really come to be there for me as we buried abuela.
Waking up alone in abuela's bed just made me feel just that: alone.
Nash was right, my abuela wouldn't have wanted me to give up, but to be strong and prevail.
I got out of bed and discovered it was eight at night. My stomach growled and I figured it would be best to finally eat. All the women I knew, along with a few of the men, were real good cooks. Really, I just hoped someone had brought over some lasagna and—
My face exploded into pain as soon as I stepped out into the hall. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth just as another blow came to my face.
This one took me down and brought my attention up.
Chuy.
He stood before me, ready to hit me again.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I held up my hand to shield his next possible strike.
"What Hector should've done." Chuy practically growled. He took his balled fist and hit me with it, throwing it into my stomach and snatching all the air from my lungs. He hit me again and soon his hand covered my mouth as he fed my stomach another blow.
For just a brief moment I was in a state of shock, unable to process the fact that Chuy, a guy I'd known my entire life, was beating me.
This state of comatose didn't last long, not with the pain of his slap across my face and the punches he'd planted into my abdomen aching my body.
Weakly, I bit at his hand and did my best to crawl away. Only, Chuy grabbed my ankle and pulled me back.
The sight of his raised fist caused me to whimper and tremble. I wasn't strong enough to defend myself and I was too afraid to scream.
Chuy yoked me up to my feet where he began to violently shake me. "How dare you. You risk everything for a pinche pendejo! That Soh Nazi! I could kill you, I really could end you."
"Chuy, please. Por favor."
"What's he got that's so good, huh? What's he got that's worth it?"
"Chuy," I sobbed. "Stop."
One look into my eyes caused Chuy to become angrier as his grasp on me tightened. "You'd rather be his whore than with one of your own?"
It wasn't about Soldiers or Dragons; it was about Nash.
