Graveyard Girl

Chapter 9

As we pull up to Angela's house my heart drops. I have to deal with whatever shit's ahead of me, alone. Like always.

"Alright, call me when you get home. I hope everything is ok." She has concern all over her face.

"Me too," I hold her hand not wanting to let her go

"I hope you had fun while it lasted." She had a sad face. "Goodnight," she says holding the sides of my face, pulling me in for a kiss. The sensation of her lips is comforting and it's something that I would like to be a common occurrence.

The corner of my mouth turns up for a split second and then I am pulled back into reality.

Angela jumps out of the truck and I pull away from her house. I'm so anxious that I can't even wait for Angela to get inside the house. I am full of a feeling I know too well: dread.

It's the same feeling when I heard that Dad had been in a car accident and when ICE took Alejandro. I wouldn't wish the feeling on anyone. The feeling of expecting, but never knowing the exact moment when your whole life can fall apart.

After driving frantically fast I reach my house. My hands shake as I jam the key into the door. With fear making my heart do a sick dance, I open the door to see a complete mess.

Everything is scattered like a tornado tore the room apart. In the living room Mom and Camila are on their hands and knees picking up what is now garbage and what used to be loved belongings. All the drawers of all the dressers and all the doors of the cabinets are thrown open. It looks like someone ransacked the place.

"Jefa, what happened? Despair creeps into my voice.

"They broke the fucking window and robbed us," Camila says curtly.

"Camila!" Mom reprimands, keeping her eyes down on her work.

"Did you see who? Were you here when it happened? Are you hurt?"

"No. Mijo," Mom sounds completely deflated. "We were working. No one was home." She looks up at me. Where have you been?"

"I was with Angela. I thought you knew." Guilt seeps in again, although I had no way of knowing this would happen. "What did they take?"

"Um. The TV, the microwave, some jewelry we don't really know yet," Camila says frantically.

Immediately I rush up to my room and my heart drops. Of course they took my computer. Smart bastards. My dresser drawers are open and some of my clothes are taken.

"Fuck!" I rake my hands through my hair and shake my head. After rocking my heels I think back to Mom. I can't think about myself now. I have to help her. I run back down stairs.

All of the boxes holding family memories and photos were thrown to the ground. Right where I was gathering photos for the ofrenda earlier, the photos are recklessly strewn around like they were as worthless as the thieves thought they were. Memories of my Dad were treated like complete shit. Everything that I have left of him.

As I pray that none of the pictures are damaged, I gather up everything and put it carefully in boxes.

I look over at Mom. "We have to call the police."

"Mijo, you know we can't."

"But maybe I can-"

"Leo, you already know our situation." Mom cuts me off.

I do know our situation, but I burn up inside. Why did this have to happen to us? We don't deserve this. Especially considering the fact that we can do absolutely nothing about it. I'm trying all that I can to stop the feeling of powerlessness from completely taking me over.

I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone but I stop myself. Calling the police would be a complete risk to my mother and our family if they found out about her undocumented status. I shove my phone back into my pocket as anger burns out and helplessness seeps in.

There's so much to do for hours, reconstructing furniture, redecorating, sweeping the broken window glass and patching up the whole where they broke in.

I assume they broke the window, went inside and then those assholes walked right out the front door.

I can't stand to see Mom and Camila cleaning. After all, they are both tired and Camila just started living here.

Mom gets exhausted and says, "Mijo, I'm going to bed, it's been a long night. Anything left to fix we'll have to do in the morning."

I walk over to Mom and embrace her, "Try to get some sleep." I squeeze her tight but I feel how worn out she is.

"Good night, Camila" Mom says as she walks upstairs.

I walk over and join Camila on the couch.

"Leo, I'm so sorry this happened. I barely have anything here. They didn't take that much of my stuff, they just threw it around."

"Well, are you going to be ok... sleeping here?"

"I'm a little scared but you guys are here with me," she lets out a breath. "It'll be ok, I guess."

I stand up to go upstairs, "Well, good night then."

"Oh wait, before all this shit happened, how was your date?"

"It was actually amazing," I smile at her. "Thanks for asking." My smile fades.

"Alright, good night."

"Good night."

I make my way to my room and try to ignore the calamity they left. I start pushing in my drawers and I stop when I notice something.

My guitar is still in the corner. Well, I guess when you're desperate, music is the last thing on your mind. The guitar is also worn and beaten down, so I guess they didn't see the value in it. I grab my guitar and sit on my bed, thankful that they didn't take that too. Right now it's the only thing I have. I drag my finger across the strings over and over again to distract myself.

Fully clothed and clutching my guitar, I lie in bed until my angry tears lull me to sleep.