This story is not unique. It's honestly all too common.
It's 2019 in Tampa, Florida. It's summertime, and it's hot.
Jose was born in Xicoténcatl and came to this country looking for milk and honey. He loves his family more than Trump loves putting k...
I leave before the sun comes up and get home after dark.
I stink of moldy grass and sweat constantly. I try to take a shower as soon as I get home because I want my daughter to see me as a clean man— a guy she can be proud of— but sometimes Rosa won't let me. She says that she likes how manly I smell and won't let me get bathe until I make love to her.
I can't get enough of that woman. I loved her the moment I saw her under the lights on that dance floor— the way she swung her hips to Bidi Bidi Bom Bom— I damn near lost my mind.
I'm terrified that we will lose the life we've built for ourselves. God knows we've had a few close calls.
I risked everything to bring my family here— put them at risk. I ask myself every day if it was worth it.
People are being rounded up and piled into vans— children are locked in cages— families are separated.
The trip here was hard.
Women at the border are being raped and killed. The Coyotes are cruel people. The cartels are worse. If they catch you, they will kidnap you and ransom you off for whatever they can get. It's big business in Mexico, and the cops are in on it. It took my entire life savings to get us in the back of the truck that brought us across the border. It was hot, and we could hardly breathe, but I wanted something better for my daughter.
I want her to dream big dreams, but I'm also scared that if she does, they will take them away from her.
She's too young to know she's different. In her mind, she's just a kid like everyone else. She came home the other day and informed us that she had memorized all of the words to the pledge of allegiance. She wants to be a police officer when she grows up. I damn near cried. I don't have the heart to tell her it's not possible.
I don't know what I'll do if I lose them. I'm not a violent man— the only fights I've ever been in were to protect my family. I won't let anybody take them, though. I brought them here— it's my job to keep them safe. I take ownership of that.
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New chapters released every Monday and Friday (Chapter 4 of 28)
