Short Stories - Flaritza

She's a killer

"enjoy your freedom"

Caputo says as he patted the tall woman on the back

"you were never trouble here, hope I never see you again, at least not in here"

he continues winking at her in a friendly way, Flaca smiles at him

"I know that deep down you know I didn't deserve to be here, I know you know that I didn't do it"

"It doesn't matter what I know and what I believe Gonzales, I'm not the judge, but it's all over now"

he says smiling at her sweetly, she smiles back.

"5 years wasted in here, at least I learned a thing or two. still wasted over all though"

Flaca says looking around her, the building surrounding her as she was in the yard waiting for the van to pick her up

"see ya around Flaca"

Caputo says as he saw the van approaching

"sure thing, sir"

Flaca says waving him off as she got in the van

in less then an hour Flaca found herself in her home town, Brooklyn

she wasn't worried at all, she already had a job with good pay, her tia's photography company was booming, how hard could it be to take a photo? besides her tia had already offered her a 3 month course and then she could start working with her. She had her own apartment, she had graduated back when she was 20 and she had her license. she had everything she needed. but she didn't have everything she wanted

"a 25 year old woman still single, dang girl you gotta find yourself the love of your life"

Flaca talks to herself as she looked in the mirror in her bathroom, she put on a hoodie and a high-wasted pair of black jeans and headed out. she started wandering around, getting flashbacks every time she sees a familiar place or smells a familiar scent.

after a few she found herself standing in the place where it all happened, her abuela's diner. she took a deep breath and walked in, her abuela had passed away 3 years ago so god knows who was taking care of it and what they had done to the place

all eyes where on her, people whispering to one another, she was on everyone's lips by now. as she walked towards the counter she could hear phrases, hurtful phrases leaving people's, strangers' who had no idea who she really was mouths.

"she's the woman who killed her own mother"

"she's a killer"

"take the kids outside, I'll get the bill"

"don't look her in the eye, Jonas she'll hurt you"

"she didn't like how her mother did things around here so she got rid of her"

Flaca closed her eyes trying her best to block all the negative comments

"can I have a bottle of water?"

Flaca interrupts the 2 cashiers talking between themselves, one of them looks over to her while still listening to the other one who was speaking in her ear

"remember I told you someone got killed here? she's the murderer, her mother was the poor victim. the woman is heartless"

she heard her say to her, Flaca's eyes fill with tears, the whole diner was now empty. everyone left the second they saw her face

"you know what? forget it, I'll go somewhere where no one judges before they know shit"

Flaca says her voice shaky as she backed away from the counter