Page 170 of Tell Me What You Want

“Yes.”

“Eric, love, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but this is foolish, believe me.”

“I’ll tell Tomás to take you home.”

“No.”

“Yes. He’ll take you home. Goodbye, Jude. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He doesn’t look at me. He doesn’t move, and in the end, I surrender. I turn, and with a broken heart, I leave.

62

There is a noise. I’m startled. It’s the phone.

I leap from the bed. I look at the time. It’s 5:28 in the morning.

Frightened, I run to answer. Any call at this hour can’t be good.

“Yes?”

“Honey ... it’s me.”

My sister?

I’m gonna kill her! But then I hear her crying, and I’m terrified.

“What’s happened? What’s wrong?”

“I’m not doing well ... not well at all. I’ve had a fight with Jesús. He left the house at nine o’clock last night and look what time it is and he hasn’t come home ...”

She cries, and I try to calm her down.

“Where is Luz?”

“She has a sleepover at a friend’s house. Please, I need you to come over.”

“Of course ... I’ll be right there.”

I hang up and sigh. My sister and her hysterics ... Thank God it’s Saturday and I don’t have to go in to work. I think about Eric. Should I call him? It’s possible he’s awake, but in the end, I decide not to bother him. Knowing him, he’s probably still angry because of what happened yesterday. I quickly brush my teeth, wash my face, and put on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a jacket. It’s chilly.

I go down to the street and get my car. My sister doesn’t live far, but at that hour, it’s best not to walk. I turn on the radio and sing along as I drive. I see a parking space right in front of her building, so I stop and put the car in reverse; but when I look in the rearview mirror, another car speeds down the road and crashes into me.

Murmurs ... I hear only murmurs.

My eyes are so heavy, I can’t open them. I don’t know where I am or what has happened. Then I remember the car coming toward me, and I’m aware I’ve been in an accident. The sound of sirens makes me open my eyes, and I discover I’m in an ambulance with two men looking at me, bloody gloves on their hands.

“Are you OK, miss?”

“Yes ... no ... I don’t know.”

“What is your name?”

“Judith.”

“Very well, Judith, don’t be afraid. Some guys who’d been drinking crashed into your car. We’re taking you to the hospital.”

“Is that my blood?”

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