"Alvaro? Alvaro? Alvaro Gael?"
I open my eye. The sudden jolt of pain runs from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. Obviously, I am not dead. But how bad am I now? Why can't I process what is going on or what happened prior? Everything is so foggy.
"You are home. Do you know who I am?"
I look at the tall, blonde, slender woman in front of me. My eye begins to adjust. "Dr. Se…. Dr. Sepúlveda?" My voice is just as groggy as I feel.
"Yes. Yes, Alvaro. I am your… I am Dr. Sepúlveda."
"I'm…home?" Things slowly start to come back to me. Words are hard for me to pronounce.
My lips are swollen, as is my one good eye. A wooden arm holds my right arm in place. The sling houses my bandaged, left hand. My thighs feel as if stitched together and bandaged in place.
Dr. Sepúlveda stands over me with a tired look in her eyes. "And you are in bed, in your room. You are going to be all right. You just need to rest. Do you understand? You need to rest."
"Where is Milagros?!" Anxiety takes hold and I want to run out of the room to find my daughter. I try to turn my head. It is impossible with the vice-like pain soaring through my skull.
"I am here, Papi."
"Gentle, gentle, Milagros. Your father is very hurt." The good doctor shows concern for Milagros' well-being with her kind tone. She is nonetheless authoritative in her stance as, at the moment, I'm her patient.
"Here, mi amor. Just hold my hand." Milagros kisses me on the cheek. I see that she was a bit banged up. A few bandages covered her scrapes and welts.
"How did you make it home?"
"That would be me. I helped her find her way." The voice hangs in the air before I realize it is coming from someone new but familiar. A beautiful but wild-looking woman entered my range of vision. Whether she was in the room all along is something I would never know.
"This is Huehue, Papi." Milagros tries to introduce the young woman between her sobs.
I try to move my head in the direction of the newcomer. "I don't know where you came from or how you did it, but I am eternally grateful Señorita."
"What can I say? When Milagros found me, I could not refuse. Her heart was pure, but she was very frightened. She helped me…". The feral-looking woman carried a reassuring voice. It had hints of playfulness in tone nonetheless.
"Listen." Dr. Sepúlveda interrupts, "I think you need to wait until morning, girls. Alvaro needs his rest. You can tell him everything in the morning."
"I think, Dr. Sepúlveda is right. I am having a difficult time staying awake. At least I know you are safe." I stop to consider the impact of the situation on my finances. "My money purse is on the table…or is it in my pants…please find some money to pay the doctor and your friend, Milagros."
"No. Do not worry, Alvaro. I am here as your friend. Just get some rest. If you need anything, have Huehue come and get me. I don't plan to leave town anytime soon." Dr. Sepulveda remains calm, cool and collected.
"I…I will care for Milagros as you rest, Señor Gael." The wild woman in the corner finally adds to the conversation. The atmosphere in the room changes with the sound of her cheerful voice. "Do not worry about her. It is the least I can do for her." She grins from ear to ear.
"Milagros, I'm so very sorry for not keeping you safe. Stay inside, for now. Please." I begin to cry.
"Rest, Papi. I will be here with Huehue if you need me. And Doña Elena is in the kitchen making us food. So do not worry." Milagros struggles to put up a brave face and confident strength in her voice. But I know my daughter too well.
Still yet, I try to encourage her. "You're such a big girl. I love you so…mu...…..ch."
I cannot finish the sentence before darkness overcomes me again.
...