Mi Santo § Oscar Diaz

TWO

• The arrival •
Querencia

Paulina's POV

I sat in the bus with Carlitos, Watching the lights and cars zoom by. It had been three days and by now He already figured out I was gone. I perched up seeing a 'Welcome to Freeridge' sign zoom past me. The bus halted at the bus stop and that was my cue for the stop. I carried the go bags on my shoulders with Carlitos in my arms. I thanked the bus driver and stepped out seeing my surroundings.

The sun was beating down on us, and I used my hands to block the sun from Carlitos face. I set the bags down beside be taking in my surroundings as the bus zoomed past me. Small stores littered the street side walls, Children were playing around in the lots or zooming past me down the sidewalk.

"Excuse me do you happen to know where this is?" I asked a women near in a clothing boutique. She smiled looking at me then at Carlitos.

"Si Mija! Esa Es la casa de Lydia!" She exclaimed, She pointed me in the direction of the house and I smiled thanking her. I walked down the side walk stopping every few minutes to set the bags down. I smiled seeing her address on the side of a mailbox. I walked up the steps, knocking on her door.

A few seconds later the door flew opened revealing a group of kids leaving with loads of candy. She also came out smiling after them as they left. Her face turned over to me and she gasped holding her hands up to her face, I smiled choking back a sob as I embraced her in hug.

"Aye Mija que te paso?" She pondered resting her soft hands on my cheeks, she looked down at Carlitos then back at me. She gestured for me to come inside and I smiled heading inside with her. I set my bags down fixing a bottle for Carlitos.

"He's so big?" She said I smiled down at his sleeping figure, His eyes fluttered open looking at his new surroundings.

"Hey papa oh Goodmorning my love," I cooed as he smiled at me, cooing right back.

"When Paola called me I knew something wasn't right." Lydia said shaking her head, she grabbed the landline phone dialing a number.

"Yes.. She just got here.. She looks fine but we will see..here it's Paola," She said handing me the phone. I heard her shaky voice over the phone.

"Paola Walmart's wrong?!" I asked knowing her well.

"He's gone mad Paulina! He's tearing up the city trying to find you... Just stay put and lay low for now.. I will keep you updated," She said over the phone.

"O-okay," I Replied looking over at Lydia playing with Carlitos.

"Give Carlitos a kiss for me," She said hanging up my the phone not giving you a chance to say goodbye. I sighed hanging up the phone.

"You're Safe here Mija," She said noticing the wordy in my voice.

"Come on get some rest.. You look exhausted," She said and she was right, She led down a hallway where our room was set up. Carlitos' didn't have his crib or travel cot so he would be sleeping with me on the bed. I set our things, putting them in the drawers.

I sat on the bed closing my eyes taking a deep breath. The feeling I felt to finally feel free is unexplainable. Obviously I wasn't free just yet, but the great feeling of not having to dread going to the house, dressing every hour he was at home. I laid down on the bed letting sleep take over, I was too exhausted to fight it.