Rafael 'Raf' Garza
Occupation: Bartender, Photographer, Busker, Odd-Jobber Age: 28 Sexuality: Heterosexual Species: Homo sapiens Hometown: Miami, Florida Relationship Status: It is so complicated, man. Personality Traits: ++ Caring, Protective, Dutiful, Warm - - Overeager, Brash, Reckless, Stubborn
Raised in Miami at and around the turn of the millenium, Rafael Garza had a strong upbringing revolving around God and Family, even if he was never particularly devout himself - mass was always so damn gloomy, so damn concentrated on guilt and damnation, and who really had time for all that when you were coming up on the sunny south-eastern tip of the country. Still, any real differences of opinion between Raf and his family were superficial at best; he had a good childhood, with parents who did their best to provide, grandparents who did their best to impart knowledge and values, and a genuine and friendly nature that earned him friendship easy. A shifting economy and shifting career path saw him and his folks pull up roots as he made the jump from elementary to high school, taking him away from sunny Florida and dropping him dead center in the rainy, sun-starved climes of Seattle.
It was a culture shock, yeah, and the first time Raf had ever really felt lonely, east and west coast sensibilities crashing, a sudden slump in confidence turning him a bit more in on himself for a few years - he found art - lots of it. He found work, too - his parents thinking it was important for him to work early and build his work ethic up. It was in his freshman year he met Theodora, learned quickly that she was picky about nicknames, and only just after that that he was head over heels. For her energy. For her exuberance. Gosh, just for her. And then itâs been ten years and heâs had as many lifeâs callings as heâs had fingers. He's happy with a humble life. He's happy with her. She's seven years in a derby league and he never misses a single game. They decide to start a family. A little pack of their own, Theo says. And itâs great - itâs all great until suddenly it isnât. Some fucking animal gets her, and itâs all downhill from there. The babyâs fine, til it isnât. Til one month later heâs pushing a fucking couch against the door of their apartment bedroom and screaming at the thing on the other side of the door. The next time he sees Theo and heâs begging her to let him help - how? He doesnât know, but he canât not. Sheâs everything to him. She has his son in her belly - how can he do nothing?
But she tells him thereâs nothing he can do but get away. But, heâs stupid and heâs in love and so he⌠well. He did construction and drywall for a while - the landlord had trouble buying that some wild animal did what was done to their apartment, and the security deposit - psh, that was gone - but he offered to fix it all, and he fixed it all. But after a couple months of trying to pretend this wasnât happening - Theo⌠left. Said somebody told her a place to go, that she was going to go, and that he couldnât follow.
And she left. She left him in Seattle for someplace in Oregon. She makes him promise not to follow, and promises that sheâll come back when itâs safe. But itâs not ever safe - not for like, a year. And he canât talk about this with anyone and he canât really talk her out of staying there and thereâs only so long he can bear to watch his son and the woman he loves through the screen of a telephone or a shitty laptop while he lies to his family about Theo dealing with family problems. So he quits his job, he dips into savings and breaks his lease, and he tells his folks heâs got a job opportunity in Portland - more lies, yeah, but maybe he can do⌠something - anything.

















