Where The Wind Blows

Chapter 2.

She couldn't just leave, I need her and she knows that.

"Leaving?!" I said the word, more like half screamed the word, I let it roll down my tongue and I swear, I felt a bitter taste right after.

I could feel my eyes as I strained them, almost popping them out of my sockets.

"What do you mean by you're leaving Los Angeles in a week?!" I screamed this time, ignoring the looks I got from the others in the café.

Elisa looked like she wanted to tell me to keep my voice down but judging from my current mood, she just sighed instead.

She knew me too well.

"I can't afford to stay here anymore. Let's order our coffee, hmm? Then we'll discuss some more,yes?."

Coffee? She's leaving and she thinks I'll be more interested in coffee than the reason why she's leaving and where she's going to?

She looked at me waiting for affirmation, a response, just something but I was lost for words. Making a decision to ignore me then, she stood up to get our coffee.

My eyes stayed fixated on the table, digging holes in it and trying to come up with reasons as to why she'll want to leave but nothing came. All through the twenty seven years of my life, it's been with her. I just couldn't imagine leaving without her. I may not die, no need to be overdramatic but it'll definitely be hard. She's my only friend and family, she can't just leave me here. She can't-

"Here's your coffee," Elisa's light voice sliced through my thoughts. I moved my eyes from the table that I had already dug ten holes deep enough to bury the people responsible for all our suffering to the cup she placed in front of me. The coffee was black. It obviously had no cream or sugar in it.

I raised an eyebrow at her in question and she said,

"Don't look at me like that, that's what you need. That's the best way coffee should be taken besides all that sugar isn't good for you." she said as she took her seat. She was actually scolding me.

Sometimes, she sounds more like the mother I never had than a friend.

On a normal day, I would scream and nag till she takes it back and gets me coffee with lots of cream. But today wasn't like every other day, my best friend was leaving me, so I just sighed instead. A lump had already formed in my throat as tears threatened to fall. But I couldn't cry, not now, not here with all these people.

I haven't cried for the past couple of rough years, I won't today.

"Why are you leaving?" My voice came out like a whisper. I was surprised she heard.

She sighed, again.

This was getting even more depressing.

"It's Emilio,you know he's sickle celled and now,he's sick again. But this time, it's worse than normal."

Emilio! Why didn't I think about her son?.

Because you're selfish and you think only of yourself?

"I'm so sorry to hear that. But what of your abuelita? She's been the one taking care of him for the last few years since we left México. Or better yet if you must go,why don't you go visit him like you usually do then come back?."

Definitely selfish.

She moved her head sideways repeatedly and I dread what is about to come,

"No Reina, I can't just go for a visit. My abuelita is sick too. The doctor recently diagnosed her with thyroid cancer and Emilio has been sick for over three months now. She can't take care of him as well as she used to and he can't take of himself because, oh well, he's still a child. And as you can imagine, he can't he take care of my abuelita either." she said all of that in one breath and as my eyes met hers, I broke.