Don't call me doll

Chapter 31:

"Maria? Please tell me you and Tony are dressed!"

Dalia had one hand over her eyes, with the other opening the bedroom door. (Anita had left to recognize Bernardo's body and put together a funeral that morning). She heard no response, her fingers parted so she could just barely glance into the room. Dalia let out a sigh of relief when she realized it was empty. She walked in and immediately grabbed her old leather suitcase from underneath her bed.

She slammed it down on the bed and popped it open. A cloud of dust exploded all around her, Dalia burst into a loud coughing fit. She turned and grabbed all of her clothes, then began to stuff them into the suitcase. Dalia grabbed her brush, toiletries, one necklace from her parents that she never wore, and an extra pair of flats. She sat on top of the case, zipping it shut. Barely squeezing everything into it.

Dalia grabbed the case, and double checked she had the cash from Riffs apartment in her jacket pocket. She walked out of the bedroom, then paused. Her eyes scanned the kitchen.

While she hadn't been close with Bernardo, they were family. And before the whole...Riff thing. They had been semi friends. Her mind filled with the memories of the kitchen. The family meals, late nights of Anita trying to assimilate Maria and Dalia which never succeeded, the fights that resulted in every door in the apartment being slammed.

She placed the case on the ground, and sat down at the plastic table in her usual spot. Dalia let out a sigh, and looked left to right. She imagined Anita, Bernardo, and Maria sitting around her and laughing. Dalia looked down at her hands, and grabbed the cash from her pocket.

"It's time to let go..."

She looked up and crushed the money in her hands. Dalia stood up and left a piece of paper on the table. Then grabbed her case and exited the apartment.

About 10 minutes later, the door opened again. Anita entered the apartment and removed her shoes. "¡Dalia! ¿Estás en casa?" She yelled to no response. Anita walked over to the girls bedroom door and knocked. One hand was on her hip, and her head was hung low, looking down at the floor.

"¡Dalia!"

Again, no response.

"¡Dalia! ¡Abre esta puerta!" Anita yelled again, now growing annoyed with her sister's lack of response. She tried the door handle and was surprised to realize it was unlocked. "Dalia?" Anita wondered, walking into the empty room. She looked around, then noticed something strange.

Some papers, and old clothes had been pulled out from underneath her bed.

Anita got down on her hands and knees, looking under the bed then gasping when she realized the case was missing. "DALIA!" Anita screamed out the opened window into the alleyway. She ran back out of the room and now noticed the yellow paper on the table. Anita grabbed the paper and read as fast as possible. Then bolted out of the apartment, grabbing her bag and shoes.

Anita, Lo siento. I'm taking a train away from this place, don't look for or worry about me. I wish you the best...and love you more than the world. Tell Maria that I wish her and Tony the best. Dalia

A/N: Here it is! Chapter 31! Ok, so I had to go through the last few chapters and renumber them, because I typed the wrong numbers...I ain't the brightest lightbulb lol.

But! Hope you loved the chapter, and that you're having a great day or night. Also! Y'all are incredible! We broke 15k reads! Seriously I can't thank you enough for the support and feedback! I love to hear it! Special thanks to everyone who reads, writes, comments, follows, and/or votes!