Becoming the Storm

This Melanie Sancho from WSIM Channel 4 News, Valentina Gomez was found dead at her son’s grave this morning.  Ms. Gomez was in the news previously after her son was found murdered in the bathtub.  Her husband turned himself in a week later after a nationwide manhunt, confessing to the murder and committing arson, when he burned down the home they shared.  Valentina had climbed out the window but fell causing multiple injuries.  Mr.  Gomez is currently spending life in prison. Valentina’s death has been ruled a suicide.

[Two Months Later]

Things are just starting to go back to normal after Valentina’s suicide.  Miss O seemed unaffected, she said, “I have seen many death Xola, I am sure I see many more.” Terra still stays with us, but insists that her boyfriend will be there soon to get her.  That girl is a spoiled pain in the ass if I ever seen one.  

I hadn't had any ghost calls recently and my dreams about Azreal and I seem to keep coming every once in a while.  To keep my mind off Valentina’s death, I threw myself into my work.  Business at the diner has picked up for the summer, and I’ve been working extra long shifts, but I am tired of it.

After yet another long night of work, I came home and worked out.  I am so proud of the progress I have made with my weight.  Miss O jokes that if I keep working out, that I am going to disappear.  During my workout, I turned up J. Cole’s new album and got it in for about 20 minutes.  

After my workout, a bath was a must.  I could still smell every meal, from every table that I waited on today, and I wanted it off!  I was relaxing in the tub when I got a phone call regarding one of the applications I had put in a few days ago.

The lady on the other end sounded bubbly and sparkly from the first, “Hello.”

“Hello, Is Miss Xola there?”

“Yes, I am Xola, who is this?”

“This is Cassidy Smalls, I am Mr. Darren Reed’s assistant, You put in an application a few days ago and he would like to meet with you.”

“Oh yes! When would he like to meet?”

“In an hour at Kool Kidz Karaoke hut, please be prompt.”

“Oh..okay, I will be there-”

I hadn't told anyone about the dreams or the ghost call that I had.  Thank goodness, I hadn't had another call since then. 

I started my day as I usually do, with a nice 20 minute run on the treadmill.  After dealing with Azreal constantly calling me a fat bitch every chance he got, I wanted to make sure no one teased me about my weight ever again.  Don’t get me wrong, I love every bit of my skin, but the name calling and teasing hurts.

After my workout, I took a shower and went to work.  Being a waitress wasn't something I saw myself doing, but it helped to make ends meet momentarily, I’m just fortunate that Miss O doesn't charge much for rent.  I had been saving the past few months for a new bed, the current one was getting too hard and I was tossing and turning a lot.  I placed my order on my phone and asked the furniture company to deliver it to the house while I was working.  On my lunch break, I took a brief nap in the backroom.

Xo? Xo?! You home baby?

I’m in the kitchen, Azreal.  

[Goes in the kitchen and pulls flowers from behind his back] Happy birthday baby!!

[Smiling]  Thank you!!

Hey Xo, you know I’m sorry about last night right?

Yeah Aze, I know you didn't mean it.

I would never hurt you like that, I don't even know what made me slap you.  I promise I’ll never do it again.

I believe you, these flowers are beautiful.  What else is that behind your back?

[He smiles and pulls his hand out]  Well, I was going to wait until after dinner, but [drops to one knee] Will you marry me Xola Marie?

Yes Aze!! 

When my alarm when off, I shook the dream off quickly.  I didn't want to think about the day he proposed or him every again.  

I finished my shift and headed home.  I was craving Lasagna, so I went straight to the kitchen and whipped up a pan.  Everyone could smell it as I pulled it from the oven and we sat down to eat, a new face emerged from the lower part of the house.

“Valentina, Xola, this is Terra,” Miss O began to speak before Terra cut her off.  “I don't want these hoes knowing my name, its none of their business.”  Miss O ignored her and continued, “She is new resident of Haven House, please help her to feel welcome.”  

We both spoke to Terra but she just rolled her eyes and went back to her food.  “So you’re going to eat my food but not speak to me?”  I spoke up, I was annoyed by her rudeness.  “HELLO,” she said sarcastically, “My name is Terra, I wont be here long because my man will be coming to get me soon, this lasagna is good.” 

Miss O laughed, “Honey, you are here because your parents think you need to stay away from this boy.  He bad news for you.” Terra didn't like this, she threw the plate across the room and yelled, “Dice loves me!  So what if he’s shot some people, they deserved the shit.  I’m 17 and old enough to know what I want.”

I just shook my head as I cleared my plate and went upstairs to do my nightly workout.  I passed by my bed and couldn’t wait to climb into it!  

I worked out for about 30 minutes before heading outside to one of my other favorite parts of the house, the garden.  

I had started growing fruits, vegetables and herbs in the garden, I was excited to see the fruits of my labor.  While out there, I thought about the dream I had on my break.  Why was I still holding on to those memories?  I didn’t understand it.  When I first got here, Miss O recommended counselling, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone at the time.  Maybe I will search for a therapist in the morning.  For now, I was going to go upstairs and lay in my new fluffy bed, right after I take my engagement ring off and put in my nightstand. 

I started my day as I usually do, taking my ESL classes online. However, today was not a usual day.  My mind was wandering about today and what it would bring.  

It had been two years since I made my home at Haven House, but it was not the anniversary of that day, and most certainly not my birthday.

I ate breakfast, and caught my ride to work.  I hated my job, the people were filthy.  Some of them were rich gross people, the other were poor slobs.  I knew Xola got a kick out my stories, but they were truly nightmares.  I pined for the day that I could tell that job to kiss my Latina ass.  

When Miss O first told me about the job, I thought she was being stereotypical because I was Latina, but I found out that she only suggested it because a good friend of hers owned the housekeeping company.  It was horrible, and the pay was blah.

After work, I walked towards the park as I always do, smell the flowers and trees, then head to the graveyard.

Here, my little Angelo was buried.  Today was his birthday.  Each day, I visit his grave and read him a book, but on his birthdays, I bring him a slice of cake from the diner nearby.  I sat up against his headstone and began to read the book before falling asleep.

Mommy?

Yes mijo?

Mommy take me to the park, please?

Not now Angelo, mo-mommy, isn't feeling too well.

Papa said you are just high, what does high mean?

It means sleepy, mijo.  Roman! Roman!!

What, Valentina? Why are you screaming?

What the fuck did you tell Angelo?

I told him the truth, you’re a mess.  Clean yourself up and lets take him to the park.

Why in the hell would you tell him this? Why the fuck would you teach him that word?

So he knows what kind of a mother he has.  

Mommy? Daddy?

Yes, Mijo?

Can we go to the park now?

I had been staying at Haven House for a month now.  Turns out the “escort” thing that Miss O pitched was just a joke.  That lady has some really dark humor...Anyways, she did have a job lined up for me, as a server in a local diner.  

The diner didn't pay much, and thank goodness Miss O didn’t want much for rent.  She only asked that I made sure I had my own groceries in the fridge and whatever I could spare as rent.  

I came home from a long day at work and Miss O had made her bad ass banana pudding.  I grabbed a bowl and sat at the table.  “Hey Miss O, hey Valentina, how was your day today?” I asked politely.

Valentina sighed before speaking, “You would not believe the shit that people leave around in their homes.  It can get downright disgusting! This guy had me clean his apartment and it so gross, I had to stop myself from throwing up.”

Miss O chuckled, “I know, I used to clean some pretty gruesome homes in my day.” Valentina continued, “This guy just let his ugly dog shit everywhere!  Also, I was so tired of the little bastard barking at me, I opened a door and let it run out, who knows if it came back.”

I laughed.  I loved hearing Valentina’s work stories because she was so animated and she had a new one everyday.  Work for me was boring, sometimes I would have days where I would drop something or someone would spill something on me, but it was never nothing like her day.

After dinner, I went downstairs to put a load of laundry in the washer, when my phone rang.

Hello?

[Heavy breathing]

Um, hello? Who is this??

[click]

I was spooked.  All I could think about was that Azreal had found me after two months.  I ran upstairs to take a shower to try to clear my mind.  Quiet as it’s kept, I said a small prayer that I was just overreacting to the call.  Maybe it was a wrong number?

My life was shit from the moment I was born.  I grew up in a small village with dirty water, in a small shack with 6 brothers and 3 sisters, I the youngest. I was 8 when my father killed my mother, right in front of as, as we tried to eat dinner.  

My mother had been sleeping around, she didn't bother to keep it s secret.  Sometimes she would parade her new toys right through our front door as we played in the living room.  Many people told my father this, he refused to believe it.  He was a rehabilitated good man, for now.  He was an on again-off again father.  He would disappear for days and then come home as if he had been there the whole time.  He would say he was working, but the money he brought home never made sense.  

That night, my mother was in a good mood.  Her newest play toy had left 10 minutes earlier and we sat down to eat the dinner, my sister Ella had made.  My papa burst through the door, pointing and yelling about her making him a fool.  They argued, which was nothing out of the ordinary.  Us children continued to eat, we were conditioned to it.  

Suddenly, things were different.  He had his hands around her throat and i could see her turning blue.  We started to yell for him to let her go, but he didn’t, not until she was lifeless.  We were silent, in disbelief and we watched her body drop to the ground.  

The police came and took my papa away.  We children sent to foster home, until papa came home 2 years later.  We came home but it didn't feel right.  Benny and Carlo, the oldest boys, ran away and joined the Cartel at 15. Gia moved in with my aunt, my mama’s sister, she became pregnant by auntie’s husband shortly after and auntie raised the baby.  Ella and Quentin moved away as soon as they turned 18, never writing or reaching out to us.  Louis, was 14 and committed suicide after being bullied at school.  Jorge was in and out of jail for stealing, mostly food, clothing and pickpocketing.  Pablo was killed in a gun fight in the middle of town, people claim that it was over a girl.  It left Paloma and I alone at home.

Paloma became papa’s favorite.  He loved her, but not like a child.  She slept in his bed, she cooked and cleaned for him.  I had suspicions and they were confirmed when Delano was born.  Papa went away again.  I left home at 14 and went from couch to couch.  One of my friends put me on to sex for money.  It was how I lost my virginity.  I made enough to get a one-way ticket to the states.

When I got here, I was still homeless.  I continued to prostitute until I met Roman.  He was my hero, my everything.  Five years later, we were married and Angelo was born.  I loved my son and husband, I loved my new life.  When Angelo was 3, I caught Roman cheating.  We worked through it, but it was rough.  We argued all the time, and I was always suspicious.  I turned to drugs eventually.

One night, I don't know what happened.  I was buzzing and Roman and I started to argue.  He was shouting about stolen money and accused me of getting high with it.  After we stopped arguing, I went to bed.  The sound of Angelo crying and wild splashing woke me up.  I ran to the door but it was locked, I couldn't break free.  I banged on the door and pleaded for him to open it, but he just told me to go back to bed, Angelo was fine.  It grew quiet.  

I called out to Roman and Angelo, and didn't get an answer.  I began screaming and Roman told me to shut up before I woke Angelo.  I took it as I was overreacting and Angelo was in the bed sleeping.  As I drifted off, the room grew hot before I realized, the house was on fire.  I panicked and ran to the door, which was still locked and called out, no answer.  

Ophelia, or Miss O as she liked to be called, met me out front.  I was nervous, still a little scared that Azreal would find me here and kill me.  Miss O is a petite, elderly woman, but she was fit.  Taking a drag of her cigarette, she welcomed me in.  

“Welcome to Haven House, this is a sanctuary, my home.  I expect you to treat it as such,” she said in a thick accent that I assumed was Russian.  “I give you the rules once we get inside the house. You will have own room, much privacy.  Right now its just me, you and Valentina. You meet her later, maybe after shower and food.”

We went in the house and she showed me to my room.  The bed was huge and I couldn't wait to lay in it.  I put my things away and went back downstairs where I found Miss O sitting on one of many couches.

“Sit,” she instructed.  “Here are rules, number one, no men allowed.  If you require male company, you must go to his home.  Number two, keep house clean, you cook own meals, no maids here.” She began to light another cigarette, “Under my roof, you work. No need to worry, I have job for you. I have some friends and all you do is keep them company from time to time.”  

I was taken aback, “Company?  Like, a hooker?”  She laughed.  “Not like hooker, you don’t sleep with friends. Dinner, movies, shopping.  They pay well.  Once you have little money stashed, you pay rent.” She took another drag of her cigarette and blew the smoke elegantly.  “No need to have fear here, I take and protect many women, If you leave, you are always welcome back.  As long as you follow rules.”

Her rules were fair, but I was still confused about the escort thing.  Did the hospital staff and police know about this?  I explored the house, I found many flower pots, I loved to garden.  The house looked like an old industrial building, but somehow warm and inviting.  Well decorated for sure.  

I went to my room and laid on the bed, scared to close my eyes, because every time I did, I saw that night all over again.  I needed sleep, so I went ahead and closed them.

“Did you just tell me no?  You know I don’t fucking like that word Xo.”

“I’ll teach you, you fat bitch, nobody gives a fuck about you but me!”

“Why do you always have to piss me off, HUH? You like me beating your ass?”

“You’re nothing but a dumb, fat ugly bitch, you know that right?  You’ll never make it in the world without me.  I don’t even love you, I pity you.  You’re not even good in bed.”

“Ma’am? If you can hear my voice, this is the police, give me a sign.” I heard a female voice.

“My god, there’s blood everywhere, get this lowlife out of here.” She shouted.

“Fuck you pigs! That’s my bitch, she’ll come right back to me.” Azreal shouted as they dragged him out of the apartment.

“Get this bastard out of my fucking sight, NOW!” She shouted again.

“Get her on the stretcher and to the hospital quick,” she directed to others in the room.

I remember the day I came to Haven House.  

I was still wearing the clothes from days before, clothing given to me from someone at the hospital.  He had really overdone it this time.  He, being my boyfriend- excuse me, ex-boyfriend, Azreal.  

I had been with him for 8 years, high school sweethearts.  It started to get violent in the 6th year.  At first, it was a few shoves here and there, but then, it turned into slaps across the face, and ended with full blown punches.  

I didn’t have family to turn to, no friends.  After high school, we had moved to San Myshuno, a big city I didn't want to be in, in the first place.  Yet, I loved him, so I went.  

The best and worst day of my life was a month ago.  Azreal came home after a night of drinking, and I wasn't in the mood, so I turned my back to him.  Big mistake.  One thing Azreal hated was rejection, and whenever I told him no, things ended badly.  

Before I knew it, he was on top of my punching me until he dragged me from the bed onto the floor.  As my eyes swole and blood trickled down my face, he resorted to kicks.  It felt like he was kicking a field goal with my body.  I cried and begged for him to stop, but he wouldn’t.  I even offered to have sex, but we were past this.  

At this time, he started slamming my head into the floor.  I knew I was going to die.  But, I didn't.  Someone heard my screams, I don't know who, but someone called the police.  They burst in the door and tackled him to the ground. It didn’t matter, I was unconscious then.  

I woke up in the hospital weeks later, a nurse by my side.  The first words she said to me was, “I prayed for you.” I couldn’t see anything, my face completely covered in bandages.  I walked to the mirror, removed them, and gasped because I didn't recognize the face looking back at me.  The beating was so bad that I needed facial reconstruction surgery.  It hurt, but I cried.  

A lady came and talked to me, asked questions about my life, family and friends.  I had no job, Azreal didn't allow me to work.  Shit, where was he?  She told me he was in the custody of SMPD still.  I sighed a sigh of relief.  She told me about Haven House for domestic violence victims, miles away in Newcrest.  It took me three days, but I finally said yes.  They gave me enough cab money to go to the house and gather a few things, and then head there.