#week8.

WORD COUNT: 854

To say Dani was excited to go back to Mexico was an understatement, it was where some great childhood memories were, but most importantly she was excited to see her abuela. The woman raised her for a short period of time when her mother was busy working nonstop when she was younger, and if there was anyone that Dani admired it was her grandmother. She was sassy, strong, and selfless, all of which Dani aspired to be. So she’d booked her tickets a few days back, a surprise of sorts for the older woman since her birthday was at the end of the month.

It was going to be great.

Humming happily as she took a bite of the chicken she’d just made, the short girl grabbed her phone and plopped down onto the couch, dialing her mother’s number who she knew was staying with her abuela at the moment. She’s assumed it was because of a job or something she was working on, her mother was always all over the place which explained where the younger Harper woman got it from. As the phone rang, she clicked on the television, smiling as she heard her mom answer on the other end.

“Hey! So, before you say anything or say no, I already did it so you can’t stop me. I’m going to come visit abuela this week, bought the tickets, made the arrangements with work.” Not that her mother knew that Dani wasn’t waitressing anymore. “I’m going to surprise her, so if you aren’t busy you can pick me up, if not I’ll get a cab or something?”

There was a pause, a way too long pause that made her sit up a bit, tossing the remote to the side as she knit her brows together. “Mom? Did you hear me?” Dani asked, clearing her throat as she tucked her hair behind her ear, in hopes that maybe it muffled the speaker she was listening through.

“No, mija, I heard you it’s just.....I haven’t been that honest with you. I know you love your abuela but, I moved in with her because she wasn’t doing too well lately honey.”

“Wait, no, I literally just talked to her last week? She was fine, we face timed, she looks fine. Don’t play with me like that.....” There was silence and Dani felt her throat tighten as she shook her head, pursing her lips into a straight line. With no answer immediately, Dani knew that was an answer enough in itself. “Por favor di que estás bromeando, por favor dime que está bien.” She said hurriedly, running her hand over her face, clenching her jaw as she waited for an answer. Any answer. Anything.

“She’s pushing through it Dani, but....I know she’s hurting. She’s too stubborn to tell me, but I know she is. I didn’t want to worry you because I know you’re so busy but, she’s struggling.”

“She’s strong! She can do it, she can do anything, she’ll be fine. Everything will be fine. I’m coming, especially now, so dont’ argue with me please.” Her voice was small as she tucked her knees into her chest, feeling her eyes sting with tears as she breathed out slowly, trying to do the techniques her therapist taught her years ago to calm herself down. But there was this unavoidable pain in her chest as she clenched her free hand into a fist, pushing her nails into her palm to try and direct the pain elsewhere, “My flight lands at 1 PM. Terminal 3. Southwest airlines. Okay? Please pick me up, I need to see her as fast as possible if.....things are bad.” The words choked in the back of her throat, making her pull the phone away from her face in fear that she’d break out into crying any moment.

“Okay sweet heart, todo estará bien, te amo cariño. por favor, no te preocupes demasiado, nos vemos pronto. te amo hasta la luna y de vuelta.”

There’s a small smile at the words, the ending phrase always how she ended her phone calls with her mother and grandmother. “La luna y de vuelta.“ Dani whispered in a shaky voice before hitting end, already feeling the tears swell in her eyes as she put the phone down, collapsing into the couch as she let the emotions overtake her body.