Ximena: A Multi Series

🧸F.M.L

Ximena used her house key to open her aunt's door.

Ximena: Auntie, I'm here!

Fiona: I'm in the kitchen!

Ember: Ti Ti!

Skye: Ti Ti!

They ran over, eager to see her. She removed her shoes and put on her house slippers.

Ximena: Hi Girls!

They hugged her, she kissed Ember on her forehead. Skye poked her lips out and Ximena pecked them. While Ember still had a few faint memories of her Mom. Skye had her "Mommy" moments with Ximena. Ximena just let nature take it's course, Skye was only 4 and Ximena was pretty much the only mommy she would vividly remember. Ximena walked into the kitchen being piloted by the delicious smell.

Ximena: Oh my gosh, Auntie! That's smells so good, I'm so hungry.

She kissed her aunt on the cheek. She looked and saw Tang Yuan(Glutinous rice balls). Ximena grabbed a Tāngchí(Chinese soup spoon). She scooped up one of the pastel colored squishy balls and slurped it into her mouth.

Fiona: XIMENA! 那些是甜点(Those were for dessert.)

Ximena: Sorry, Auntie! I'm starving!

Fiona: 如果你没有怀孕(If you weren't pregnant...)

Ximena: Thank you. 我爱你(I love you)

Fiona: Yeah Yeah...

Shortly after, they all sat down for dinner. It was a delicious spread of hotpot.

Ximena: 强叔今天过得怎么样？(Uncle Qiang how was your day?)

UQ: 灿烂的甜心，你呢？(Splendid sweetie, and you?)

Ximena: 压力很大，但我在管理。(Stressful, but I'm managing.)

She went back to eating her food. Ximena had no plans on stopping either. Noodles, meat, rice, and buns.

UQ: Ah! I have to go. Work call.

He up and left. With Ximena's clearly heightened appetite, Aunt Fiona had to talk about it.

Fiona: Xia, has he come to terms with this yet? Has he shown any signs of trying to help you?

Ximena: Not really. I've been talking to Ms. Nickey, his mom, but I don't want anyone else to make up because he's lacking. I just want him to step up.

Fiona: What about the 堕胎(abortion)?

Ximena: That's what he wants. When I met up with him, we argued, and he said he wanted me to get one. Initially, after the argument, I thought I should get it. But, it's just not me, Auntie. I laid down and made this baby in pleasure. I knew what I was doing... and so did he...

She continued to eat and her aunt continued to observe just the way this pregnancy was changing her.

Fiona: Ximena, you know, if you're struggling financially, that's a reason not to bring a baby into this world right now.

Ximena: I know that. You're starting to sound just like him, Auntie. Maybe if he gave me some money, I wouldn't be struggling with finances. But, little does he know, even if my baby is well fed, clothed, and has a roof over their head, and they will, money is not even one of my top problems right now.

Fiona: What else could it be then?

Ximena: Even with money, I still have to wake up to get them ready for school everyday, I'm nauseous every damn morning and all day, I'm fatigued, I gotta give birth to it, pray to God I make it out of that alive, I'm responsible for bathing them, cleaning up after them, cooking dinner. Just so many responsibilities fall on mom, at the end of the day. Whether we in the relationship or out of it, he knows how to cause me stress in my life.

Fiona: I can help you, Ximena. At least financially.

Ximena: You don't need to, Auntie. Because I probably won't be keeping it.

Skye was pestering Ximena about Ember's iPad that she refused to share. She tapped Ximena's leg with a pouty face.

Skye: Titi!

Ximena: She doesn't want to share right now, Skye. I'll buy you one, when I can, okay?

Ximena pulled Skye onto her lap and handed Skye her iPhone to play with.

Skye: I ask Sanny Clawz for Cwistmas?

Ximena: Yeah... maybe Santa can get it.

Fiona was hurt hearing that exchange. Ximena went from their Auntie one day to their mommy the next day due to a bad tragedy.

Fiona: Oh suddenly you won't be having it? Why not, Ximena?

Ximena: You're right. He's right. Everyone and Society's right.

Fiona: Right about what?

Ximena: Me not having anything to give this baby. I don't need to bring it into this world. Even with a stable job, I'm still broke. I got kids now. It's hard to get ahead in this world especially as a single mom. Why should anyone pay for my mistake? His mistake. It has a father that doesn't want it or doesn't want to support it. And they wonder why women don't want babies. It's not worth it.

Fiona: You told me you wanted it.

Ximena: I do! I want my child. I would love to kiss and play with my baby, but I don't have the means to support it and that's just that. Not cause I'm mad at Rome or want to avoid my responsibilities. Or whatever else people say about women who have abortions. It's not like he wants it either. I-

Fiona saw her red cheeks meaning she was getting very upset. She started to cry a little.

Fiona: Aww. Stop it now, Ximena.

Ximena's aunt reached over and wiped her tear away. Ember got up and hugged Ximena.

Ember: It's okay, Auntie.

Fiona: It will be fine, Ximena.

Ximena: You don't get it Aunt Fiona! You're Chinese! This is when my cultures clash. It will be jarring and devastating when I walking in Social Services asking for food stamps and welfare. I'm living up to the stereotype they say the women in my community are. They see me and they think I'm half African American or I'm Hispanic. They hear about me being pregnant and already having Ember and Skye without taking the time to know that they are my nieces. They see a father figure not present in the home. They don't know I tried to do everything... I did everything right to keep him around... I sacrificed and submitted for the sake of peace...

Fiona seen Ximena's broken heart in her teary eyes. It broke Fiona's own heart to see her niece like this.

Ximena: I found out I was pregnant after the fact. We were already broken up by that time... I wish I would've been more careful. I wish I stayed on birth control... Lindsey told me not to get pregnant by somebody I'm not married to... I feel like such a disappointment...

Fiona: Disappointment?... You took in your nieces and you are raising them like your own. You work hard to provide for them. You give your own money up for them and save their trust fund. That sounds like something noble to me...