Chapter 27 #2
“It is none of your concern. You’ve already gotten into this mess because you didn’t listen to me.
I don’t need to explain myself anymore.” Mamá snapped, her full lips forming a fine line.
Leo’s green eyes caught her attention behind Mamá’s back.
He gave a slight shake of his head. Esmie pursed her full lips, similar to her Mamá’s, but Esmie understood her brother’s subtle expression from the years of living together.
Trying to reason with Mamá was pointless.
She was stubborn in her ways. Whenever this happened, and Esmie wanted to push further, Leo always told her to give Mamá space.
Eventually she may come to reason, although she hardly ever did.
“Well, Samson and I have been trying to find a cure, or something to help Quita. It’s been slow going, so we changed tactics and are attempting to find something to hide the purple on her face. That is our main concern right now because…”
“Does anyone else know about this?” Mamá cut Leo’s explanation off with a low voice.
“No, just Samson and me. There are rumors at work, but no one knows if they are true or who it can be. Even the data and research we have is on an untraceable tablet.”
“Can you be trusted?” Mamá pointed an accusatory finger at Samson.
“Yes, Se?ora. I will guard this secret, and your daughter, with my life.” Samson’s answer warmed Esmie’s cheeks. She knew he would.
“Good. Leo, I appreciate all you have done for your sister, but I’ll handle this now.
I have a person who can cure her.” Mamá pulled out her phone, typing away as fast as her thick fingers could.
Did she say cure her? Esmie’s heart dropped.
While she wanted her face back to normal, she was getting used to the powers and wasn’t sure if she wanted to lose them at all.
“Hold on, how do you have someone who can cure her? We haven’t even found a cure at work for the other glass colors.
Plus, I think I’ve already found a solution to hide the purple on her face.
I was heading to work now to get it. I just need a little more time.
” Leo put a hand on Mamá’s shoulder. She shrugged his hand off.
“Time? We don’t have any more time. You said yourself people at the Law Enforcement Division are already suspicious and you of all people know what this is and what it does.
You can’t just hide this. She needs to be cured.
It needs to be gone from her system. Completely. Esto no es naturál.” Mamá fumed.
“How is it not natural? Granted the glass of course is man-made but the radiation it came from isn’t. The powers are just a by-product of adjusting to the radiation.” Samson interjected.
“No, eso no es del Elohim.” Mamá swung her arm down, but Samson wasn’t relenting.
“If people are changing and adjusting to the radiation, then maybe it is Elohim’s way of saving His people so they don’t die and the human race can continue to live on.
” Samson puffed out his chest. Mamá stared at him.
They all did. No one ever questioned Mamá’s understanding of Elohim.
She clutched the rosario around her neck, narrowing her eyes at him.
“While you may disagree with me, as her mother it is my decision. And she will have this eradicated from her body. ?Es finál!”
“What about what I want?” Esmie blurted. Everyone stared at her now. She gulped, but it was already too late. It was out. She plowed on. “What if I don’t want to lose my powers? What if I want to keep them?”
“?Porque?” Mamá’s eyes bulged out of her head.
“I don’t know, maybe I can help people with them. Do something more with my life than we originally planned.”
“No, it was Elohim’s way of punishing you for disobeying me and going to that club.”
“Or it was Elohim’s way of using my mistake to set me down the path He wants me to go. You always say, El dispone todas las cosas para el bien de nosotros. So, maybe He is working this out for my good.”
Mamá pursed her lips. “I’ve already set you up an appointment. Vamos. Ahora.” She turned on her heel and walked to the door. Esmie refused to move. Leo’s head snapped back and forth between them.
“No me voy. Leo will help me hide the purple, but I don’t want to be cured of my powers.
” Esmie crossed her arms, refusing to budge.
Mamá slowly turned back around and glared at her.
Esmie held her gaze, refusing to budge this time.
Mamá wouldn’t relent and neither would Esmie.
After several long moments, when Esmie was sure the rage filled look on Mamá’s face meant she was going to drag Esmie out by her hair, Mamá slapped the sides of her thighs with both hands.
“Fine. You stay here then. Leo is in charge of you, and so help me, by Elohim, if you get caught, that is on you. All of you. You are not to go anywhere out of this apartment.” Mamá pointed a finger at them.
“But, if you can’t hide the purple in five days, she comes home and sees my person who will cure her.
Me entiendes?” She didn’t wait for answer as she opened the door and slammed it behind her. Everyone let out a collective breath.