And Mateo was gone.
He was gone with the promise of
Go back when I had money.
Then he stopped answering.
It changed number.
The letters that Lucia sent to the place where they could find him before returned without answer.
Meanwhile, she went ahead.
He worked in the milpa.
He matched other people’s clothes at night.
He sold food on Sundays.
And she carried a pregnancy that demanded more than her strength could give her.
When it was time for childbirth, one of the babies needed immediate attention.
Lucia had arrived without enough money.
I couldn’t locate the children’s father.
And I couldn’t wait either.
Matthew looked up.
Who helped you?
Lucia did not respond immediately.
He opened another drawer.
He pulled out a doubled receipt several times and put it on the table.
“I sold the last thing I had left of us.
Matthew looked at the paper.
