I know my worth.. I think

Chapter 3

You were almost home before the embarrassment started to lessen. Though the heat in your cheeks stayed. You couldn't believe Luisa kissed you and Dolores heard it and told the entire family Madrigal. Maybe it'd be best to just stay home with Papa for a few days. If only to avoid the embarrassment of seeing the Madrigals and to escape their teasing. Though it didn't bother you as much as you let on, in fact it made you feel welcomed and kind of loved.

When you finally got to the door of your casa, you opened it. You expected to see Papa sitting at the table with a drink or for him to be outside in Mama's chair. Except when you step inside your eyes are immediately drawn to the figure laying on the floor next to a fallen chair. The heat in your cheeks immediately left, leaving you feeling cold.

"Papa?" You whispered before rushing to the figure. You knelt down beside him and rolled him onto his back. A gasp left your lips and you felt tears come to your eyes. Your Papa was white as a sheet and cold to the touch. It was obvious that he had been gone for a while. Guilt makes you choke on your next breath. While Papa had passed, you were busy avoiding him and crushing on Luisa.

A choked sob left your lips before you called out, "Dolores! Dolores what do I do? It's Papa. I-" You couldn't finish the sentence, another sob racked through your body. You fell onto Papa, holding him in a tight grip before a scream tore its way out and into his chest.

–

Across the village at the madrigal home, Dolores was laying in her bed thinking of Mariano when she heard you call out to her. Immediately Dolores was on her feet and out her bedroom door in search of Julieta. She went straight to the kitchen where she could hear Julieta cooking different foods to bring into the village the next day..

"Tía Julieta! It's Y/N! Something happened to her Papa. She's crying and-" Dolores flinched as she heard your scream of pain. "It's something bad Tía.."

A chair slipped backwards across the floor. Luisa was standing in front of it, eyes wide in panic. Dolores watched as Luisa started for the entrance to Casita before returning to pick up Julieta, who had grabbed a few arepas, then rushed for the door again. As soon as Luisa got outside, she ran for your casa. Not caring that in her hurry she broke part of the fence that held the donkeys. She would fix it later.

As Luisa neared your casa, she slowed, setting down Julieta. Reaching for the door that was left ajar, she gently pushed it open to reveal your hunched form. Luisa carefully walked over to you, sliding to her knees beside you, before whispering, "Oh Y/N." Luisa reached out and gently pulled you into her chest. Whispering to you that everything would be alright and that she was there.

–

You could hear someone speaking to you but you couldn't understand what they were saying. Too shocked about that evening's events to fully comprehend everything around you. You could feel warm strong arms surrounding your smaller frame and a wonderful scent filled your lungs. Eventually, you started to calm, the whispered words finally started to come into focus.

"It's okay, mi amor, it's okay. You're going to be fine. I've got you. I'm not going anywhere."

The last few words made you realize that you were clenching the fabric covering the chest in front of you while you cried, asking them not to leave you. You unclench your fists,pulling away to see who was holding you. It was Luisa, strong and beautiful Luisa. Then it hit you. Mi amor. She called you her love. Your chest warmed before sadness claimed you again.

You can't stay here. You can't handle your Papa leaving you too. "Luisa." You said softly. "Take me away from here, please? I can't be here anymore." Your eyes starting to tear up again.

Luisa lifted you into her arms, holding you as if you would break if she held on too tight. She started walking, bringing you through the forest and to the river. She sat down, holding you in her lap, running a hand through your hair. It broke Luisa's heart to see you like this. To see you so sad.

"I wasn't enough." You thought.

Luisa looked down at you in confusion, "What? Enough for what, mi amor?"

You startled for a minute, not realizing you had said that out loud, before answering simply, "I wasn't enough for my Papa. I wasn't enough for him to live for.." You gave a sharp wet laugh which ended up turning into a heart wrenching sob, "I wasn't worth living for."