Miss Bala

Chapter 16: Small Tears (pt.1)

"Your desire for revenge, it's apart of grieving."

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Jumping awake, it took Gemma a moment to realize where she was. Parts of her face felt tight, it was the blood that dried on her face. She felt as she couldn't move any part of her lower body.

"Gemma?! Anybody in there?" There was loud knocking. It was Padilla.

After hearing a weak voice on the other side of the door, Padilla had to shoot off the locks. In the corner he had found Gemma, half beaten and half wrapped up in a blanket on the cold floor.

"Get me out of here." She had her head down, not wanting to look at him in her current state.

Driving down the road, it was silent.

"How'd you know I was there?" Gemma asked.

"Heard it over the radio. Recognized the description of the car."

"Anonymous tip?"

"Yeah." Padilla confirmed, "you gotta tell me something here, Gemma."

She ignored him and looked out the window, "where you going?"

"The hospital."

"No."

"We gotta get you to the doctor." He argued.

"I said no." She shook her head.

"Then what are we gonna do? Hmm?" He gave up.

"Give me your cell."

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Gloria's P.O.V

I felt Lino move right beside me as he grabbed his phone from the nightstand.

"Gloria, it's you." He groaned, putting his phone back down.

I reached over to the dresser on the opposite side of the bed and picked up my phone. Before answering, I read the time. 5:34 a.m.

"Hello?"

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Six in the morning and I was sitting in Irene's living room as she cleaned up Gemma's face.

"Lino see you leave?"

"Told him I had an early shift." I stated, watching the dry blood disappear off her left cheekbone.

"Okay you need to tell me what happened so I can help you." This was the third time Irene has asked.

"Use your imagination." Gemma sighed.

"Maybe we should let her rest awhile?" Padilla suggested.

"We have to get her to the hospital." Irene insisted.

"No." Gemma stepped in.

"I can't treat you properly from my living room-"

"We're gonna have to check in with insurance and shit. Everybody will know." Gemma's voice trailed off, sounding defeated.

Thinking about it, Irene replied back, "we'll go home. Get you some clothes. Then..Gloria? Sign you in and say you're in for a checkup or something?" Irene looked at me to see if it was okay. I nodded.