Suspect

SUS|1- Fresh Start

•Suspect Chapter One•
Fresh Start
~
"It was a day I'll never forget"
~
•August 6th, 2009•

{Ember's Pov}

Racing to la sala after hearing abuela call for me, I found her sitting in her favorite silla knitting as usual. Channel CDN played on la televisión in the background and I could feel the dire mood already.

"Sí, abuela?"

"You're going to have to get used to speaking English, nieta. Grandma have some bad news" she said, looking down.

I took a seat on la sofá and gave her my undivided attention.

"Now that you're 10, nieta. Your life is about to change. You must go and live with your mamá in the states"

"Los Estados Unidos?" I raised my eyebrow.

"English, Ember! Have I taught you nothing..."

"Yes, I am sorry. I am just used to our Español. English is....hard"

"I know but in the states, people rarely speak Español. You must...learn your other culture and that is American"

"I am American?" I laughed in disbelief.

"Yes, I just never told you but you must know now. You must know everything, for a lot of things are about to change. I raised you here in the Dominican Republic to...teach you our culture but...also to help your mother. Your mother gave birth to you in New York, now you must go live with her to have a better life. In America, anything is possible. You can follow your dreams and have all the money in the world. I think you'll like it"

You'd think it was hard to leave my life in Santo Domingo, but as a child, I was just excited to finally have my own room. Living with my mom was very different than I expected. My grandmother never told me she was....troubled. She never told me the real reason why she left, other than to make a better living. I guess I was too young to understand but later on, I found out and it all made sense.
~
•The next Day•
Las Américas International Airport
Santo Domingo, DR

Sipping on my chocolate milk, I sat right where Abuela told me to as her and mamá went over to the desk lady. It wasn't until a few minutes later, that they returned back to me and our stuff carrying small black books with "Passport" on the front.

I watched mamá and abuela hug for some time until my mother started crying. "Thank you so much for everything, ma. I owe you so much. I just hope I can do this, you know....she reminds me of him but I truly wanna take care of my daughter now"

Abuela wiped her face and gave her a big kiss before she pulled me up from the seat. We hugged for the same amount of time and when she pulled away, I could see her own tears falling down her sagging cheeks.

"Sé bueno para mamá. Te amo y estar a salvo" She said. English: Be good for mommy. I love you and be safe.

"No vendrás?" I asked, wearing a sad face. English: You're not coming?

"No, solo tú y mamá" she said and looked over at my mother who was gathering our suitcases. English: No, just you and mamá.

After our goodbyes in the airport, me and mamá caught our plane to leave for the states. Since I was only ten years old at the time, I didn't know the opportunity I was about to embark. I had always heard about the states and how people have so much money and a better life to get by. The American Dream, people would say.