Lexi Vargas

- took the male puppy out carrying him out to E.] For you. Surprise!

- Papa in the living room. “Mija, you did good in here with the decorations.” I walked over to him, hugging him gently.] Papa! Riz came to see me! [He chuckled at my excitement and I hugged E tight.] I have a present for you. [I handed him a cookie.] That’s not it. [I walked down the hall and -

- I didn’t dare tell her that E was helping at night. “Okay, baby, I’ll be right there.” Once she got me up and helped me with my pants, I washed my hands. A smile tugged at my lips as I saw E in the mirror. I mouthed the words I missed you so Mama didn’t see. I walked into the hallway and saw -

[I was in the bathroom when I heard the car pull in and E asking where I was. “Relax, baby, she’s in the bathroom.” I loved that he was looking for me already, and he had just gotten home.] Mommy, I’m done. [Getting up off the toilet was hard with the injuries, so Mama had been helping all day. -

- [She caved. Now I couldn’t wait for E to get home.]

- but I heard someone in the driveway as I was looking at the decorations. I’d never seen so many in my life. When I looked up, Riz was standing there with a little wagon full of puppies.] MOMMY! Can we have one? [She huffed. “Lexi!” I grinned.] Please, please, please! I’ll pick one for E too! -

- little, but E and Pedro’s did too. It doesn’t hurt now. So what do you say, baby? Do you want to decorate?” I nodded, grinning.] Will Papa be mad? [She shook her head. “No, never. Wanna bake cookies too?” I nodded quickly, following her to the kitchen. She made me take some Tylenol for the pain, -

- wrists.] What’s that, Mama? [Her eyes followed my finger. “That’s your tattoo, baby. See?” She pushed up her sleeve and showed me the tattoo of my name in cursive with roses and vines intertwined into it. My birthday was underneath. I looked at her and smiled.] Did it hurt? [She laughed. “A -

- right, we did finish it, but I stayed cuddled into her. “You want to start decorating for Christmas, mija?” I looked at her, confused. “Gemma didn’t let you decorate?” I shrugged.] Not since Tommy died, but even before that, she had rules and ruined it. [I turned my head and noticed ink on her -

- book, baby?” I put the bookmark in and looked at Mama.] It’s BORING! [She kissed my temple. “Well, it’s Friday, and you’re almost done with it. You can always read later, or I could read it to you.” I nodded and curled into her. “Aye, this is a boring one. We’ll finish it, though.” Mama was -

[I still think E had lost his mind, but we eventually headed to bed so he would be ready for school in the morning. When Papa and E left for the day, I finished breakfast and sat on the couch with a book. Mama was cleaning the kitchen. After she was done, she came into the living room. “How is the -

- with her was making me more nervous than not.]

[I just looked at him like he was nuts because the idea of me and mama having a good day without them here.] Are you sure you didn’t hit your head today she always looks at me like I’m some kind of wierdo. [Maybe she was getting better but she wasn’t budging with a lot of it the idea of being home -

- weird because I’m never with Mama by myself she doesn’t know what to do with me. She gets very awkward.

[once we were alone, I climbed on his lap carefully. I would never do this where anybody could see, but when we were alone, I was always on his lap or on his chest.] I’ll try. It really hurts to move and I’m not used to that either. You have to go to school tomorrow without me. This is going to be -

- doing anything but laying on the couch and watching TV.” I was thankful he said something but the fact that I almost fell off the couch wasn’t fun. At least E was fast enough to catch me before anything happened.]

[I winced as I shifted on the couch. I felt like every time I took a deep breath. It was harder. ] She’s usually in bed by now and she’s being creepy again. [When Papa spoke up, I almost fell off the couch laughing. “ Dianna please if they were going to do something, they would. They aren’t -

- have happened to me.] I know why she keeps watching us, but it’s creepy. It’s not like we’re having sex in here.

[The amount of comfort I had with him was hard to explain.] thank you. It really hurts to move. [the way, mama kept watching me was kind of creepy, but I understood it the way. The doctors explained things to me was if my brother hadn’t been looking there’s no telling what kind of damage would -

- take a deep breath though. I have a feeling I’ll be relying on my machine lot more than I was when I first moved here. This sucks.

[I smiled cuddling into him closer because I felt safe with him.] I got into the choir and one of them was in the room. I think I don’t remember. [there was something comforting about being able to spend time with him. Most people don’t have this and I was aware of that.] I wish it didn’t hurt to -

-was just leaving school. I don’t even know who they were.

[when mama was out of sight, I kissed his cheek.] I’m confused. I don’t understand why they were after me. They messed up my hair and everything. [I would be happier if we were in one of our bedrooms, but neither one of us had a TV.] I hope these girls get in trouble for what they did because I -

- but I didn’t want to do it alone.

- [as much as I appreciated the visitors. I just wanted to cuddle into my family and hide. These girls had pulled out chunks of my hair among other things and I hated it. Mama said she would fix it but tonight I just wanted E to be as close as possible.] thank you for staying with me. I trust them -

[Once everyone had left, I cuddled into E making sure to thank Papa for arranging that visit because I didn’t know how long it would be before I could have another one. I was still having a hard time moving around that’s why I barely moved once I got cuddled into E.] did mama lock the door now? -

- see me. Even with the company I made sure E. was right by me, holding my hand the entire time.]

- that wouldn’t allow it.” I looked around and he was right his wife was with him. Opie was with him and so was Nan. Papa‘s words were sweet “I told you I would find a way. I did now let’s get you inside so you can lay down.” I was carried in the house and settled on the couch before anyone could -

- what he was talking about until the smell of leather cigarettes and weed hit my nose. I turned my head, wincing slightly.] Uncle Otto! [the chuckle made me smile, but the words that followed made me cry. “Hey chickpea I didn’t come here by myself you know I wanted to, but there were some people -

[when we got home, mama got out of the car and she was grinning from ear to ear. I looked at E like Mama had lost her mind. Papa lifted me out of the car as carefully as possible, but it’s what he said that made everything make sense “someone is here to see you for a little bit.” I had no idea -