Destiny Keeps Getting in the Way

[Melinda’s Point of View]

“We heard about your grandmother’s death, Melinda.” Marcela put her hand on my shoulder.

It’s been a week since Rodrigo’s death and I’m back at London I wish I could’ve stayed a few more days but I could lose my job and it’s a pretty good job. But as Marcela told me the lie I said I felt so bad.

“Oh,” I said trying to sound casual. “Th-thanks, um thanks.”

“My grandmother died when I was five but I do remember we used to have hot chocolate whenever I used to cry for any reason.” Marcela said. “I miss her.”

“I know how you feel. My grandmother used to make everything better with a boli.”

She blinks and tilts her head to the side confused.

“It’s like a snow cone but in a plastic thing. It’s a Hispanic ice cream, I guess.”

“Is it good?”

“In the hot summer it is.” I said with a smile. “Once my nana caught me trying to sneak one before dinner and she smacked me so hard I never did it again.” I laughed.

“’Nana’ is that what you called her?”

“Yeah, that and Abue which means grandma or Abuelita meaning the same.”

“Back to work ladies.” Dr. Albright said.

We went back to work. As always I followed Dr. Albright to the rounds and met happy couples, but that’s not always the case.

“Melinda…” She told me before entering the room. “This girl was raped by her stepfather--he’s in prison--but… of course she’s pregnant. She’s very young.”

“How young?” I asked.

“Thirteen.”

“That bastard!” I spat. “I hope he gets butt raped!”

She laughs and nods. “That’s what I thought as well. I think you should also know that she tried to commit suicide… about a month ago so don’t be surprised when you see bandages on her wrists.” I nod.

We enter the room and the girl’s mother was with her. The girl had red hair with freckles and she had this sad smile on her face.

“Hello Hannah, how are you today?” Dr. Albright spoke to the girl.

“Okay.” She answered quietly.

“Hannah I want you to meet Melinda Gomez she’s a midwife and she’ll be assisting me with my patients.”

I noticed the T-shirt she had was of Metallica. I haven’t seen a single kid with that here mostly it would be Coldplay, U2 or Muse, don’t get me wrong; you know I LOVE Muse but it’s nice to see an American band.

“My favorite song is The Unforgiving.”

She looks at me with wide eyes. “You’re American.”

I giggled. “Close, I was born there but my parents are Mexican, so I’m a Chicana.”

“I’ve never met someone with an American accent before.”

“It’s all right.”

“You like Metallica?” She says. “I’ve wanted to see them for so long but when they come I never have the money… and because of this.” She pointed to her stomach. “I’ll never get to go.”

I frowned. I leaned to Dr. Albright to whisper. “Is it all right if I have a few minutes with her?”

She nods. “Mrs. Cook, come there’s much we need to discuss.”

Her mom smiled at me and mouthed ‘Thank you’ and I nodded at her. They walked out of the room and I sat next to her on the table.

“You’re going to tell me that was wrong of me to say?” She spat.

“I’m not here to judge you, Hannah.”

“You don’t know what I’ve been through!” She started to cry.

“I know people have told you this but have you gone to see a therapist?”

“I’m not really comfortable telling a stranger how my stepfather raped me over and over again.” She growled.

“But you seem to have bottled up feelings and you need to let go of that anger, Hannah because whatever you feeling your baby is feeling as well.” I said placing my hand over her stomach.

She placed her head on my shoulder and I hugged her. We stayed like that for two minutes.

“He would wait until my mum was fully asleep and he would sneak in my room.” She started and I didn’t interrupt. “He would threaten to kill me and my mum. He would start to touch me and I’ve never felt so disgusting in my life.”

She told me everything. Her body relaxed more and more as she continued. She told me how much she hated to have his baby and how she tried to kill herself because she couldn’t live with the embarrassment.

“It’s not it’s fault--” I said but she interrupted me.

“Her… it’s a girl.” She said looking down at her stomach. A small smile appeared on her lips.

“It’s not her fault,” I corrected myself. “It’s cruel of you to blame her or yourself.”

“He told me that I seduced him.” She scoffed. “I wore baggy clothes, black baggy clothes!”

She cried a little more and then she started to calm down.

“You’re the nicest nurse. The others would whisper behind my back. They thought I wouldn’t notice the disapproving looks they would give me. It hurt.”

“Don’t let them get to you. They’re bitches that have nothing better to do.”

She laughed.

“It’s all they do, gossip because they’re own lives is nothing but suckiness.”

She laughed harder. If she smiled and laughed more often she could be happy.

She hugged me. “Thank you… Melinda, you just became my best friend.”

I smiled. “Pinkie swear?” I said holding mine out.

She entwined hers with mine. “Pinkie swear. Now let’s bring back Dr. Albright back so we can see how she’s doing.”

-Lunch-

“That girl hasn’t talked about what happened to no one except when she went to the police, how did you do it?” Dr. Albright asked.

“I was almost raped once I know the horrible feeling.”

Her eyes widen. “I’m so sorry dear.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“You said almost raped, someone stopped him?”

I smiled remembering how a drunk Jacob almost raped me but Nathan saved me.

“Yeah, he saved me. I should go. I told Marcela and the others I would meet them by now.”

“All right, have a good lunch.”

I walked in the cafeteria and when I got to our usual table I saw Mackenzie. They looked like they were consoling her. She met my eyes and she narrowed them.

“You!” She yelled at me. Half of the cafeteria stopped and looked. “It’s all your fault!”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

“You took Nathan away from me.” She stood up and met me face to face.

I pushed her lightly. “Don’t get so close, I strike when cornered.” I warned and she flinched in fear.

“This isn’t over!” She took her purse and walked out.

Everyone else whispered about what happened. I sat down with my friends.

“Wait… you’re with Nathan Fullerton?” Alondra asked.

I almost jumped out of my seat when a single tulip appeared in front of my face. I looked over and saw Nathan. My whole world lit up as I saw him. He looked so happy like me.

“I’ve come to whisk you away, milady.” He said.

I laughed. “Oh, Nathan meet my friends, this is Alondra, Mike and Marcela.”

Nathan shook each of their hands.

“Guys this is Nathan my boyfriend.”

Alondra and Marcela aw and Mike looked happy for me.

“That is so cute you came all the way here to be with him.” Alondra said. “That is so romantic.”

“You don’t mind if I take her away, do you?” Nathan said.

“No, of course not. Go.” Marcela answered.

I smiled and waved good bye to them and followed Nathan out of the cafeteria.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“A place far, far away.” He pecked my lips but I brought them back again for a longer and deeper kiss. “Hmm, don’t tempt me because we won’t even leave the hospital if you continue to seduce me like that.”

I laughed. “Ooh, is that a challenge?”