Abandoned

chapter 9

Julia's p.o.v

I regret so many things that I have done in my life. One of them is trying so hard to be with Omar when we were so young. I knew he didn't want me. I always knew he liked Mayra, his next door neighbor. But he liked being popular and money more. I knew it as soon as my dad offered him everything and he gladly took it. I knew he stopped seeing her after our wedding. Atleast I thought so, until I found out she was pregnant and I had this feeling that it was my husband's baby, but he never brought it up and I followed him around for some time and he only went to work and came back home. He would sometimes go to a bar, but that was it. He was never meeting with her so I left it alone. When we saw her years ago at my aunt's house, something changed in him. He turned mean, cold and distant. He would only have sèx with me if he was drunk. After we saw her with my cousin multiple times, I just thought my assumptions were incorrect. Omar is not her baby's father. Thank God. I felt relieved. But I could see the look in Omar's face when we would see them or when mom would bring them up in a conversation. She had a son and eventually she had a daughter and shortly after mom told me that Mayra was popping pills and lost her kids because she was falling asleep everywhere and wasn't capable of taking care of them. By then we already had Omar Jr. One day I had too much to drink and I felt like fighting. Omar had been ignoring me and I couldn't take it anymore, so when he came home I told him about Mayra and called her a drug addict and he snapped. That was the first time he hit me. He went into his home office and got shìt faced and trashed the whole place up. He eventually apologized to me, but also confessed that she was the love of his life, but promised that everything is over with her and was going to work on us. When we would go over to his parents house and the little kids were out in the front yard, he would go and stand outside and stare at the older boy. I am not stupid once the kid got older, I saw the resemblance. My son and that kid look like twins. But Omar never said anything, he didn't claim him as his son, so I didn't say anything. Things just kept getting worse. It's been years now and I have lost 2 babies because he hits me for getting pregnant. He tells me he doesn't want anymore kids with me. I got on birth control. My parents won't help me. They won't let me divorce him. They say I need to try to be a better wife and not upset him. We saw Mayra the other night and she actually looked clean, not super healthy because she looks skinny. But she was always kind of skinny. She was with her daughter and Omar went at her and I tried to shut him up. I noticed the error in my ways and I want to try to fix things. I want to apologize to Mayra. I was such a bìtch to her when we were younger and she didn't deserve it. This is God's way of punishing me for taking him away from her, but then I think that she would be the one getting hit if I wouldn't have ruined their relationship. I mean, maybe not, maybe he would treat her like a queen. Who knows, regardless, I need to apologize and I want to know if her son and my son are brothers and if they are I hope she wants to let them know eachother, hang out and get to know eachother as brothers. I would love for my son to have a sibling. My son also loves her daughter. They are friends and he is always talking about her, but I have a feeling that will be a problem with his father if I don't stop it now. I don't think Omar will like it and I don't want him to start taking things out on our son.

Mayra's p.o.v

Day 1: Since I arrived last night I wasn't able to get a tour, so the woman from last night is giving me one now. They tell me where I am allowed to go and what I am allowed to do. What is expected of me and what is not expected of me. My room she says I can decorate with the pictures mom brought. I checked the box last night and she put a couple of pictures in there. All of them are of my kids, Marcus and me. She wants me to know who I am fighting for. I know who I am fighting for. I know what I want. My family, they are my end game. I just pray to god that he can give me the strength to be here all year and overcome this. I know this is a lifetime commitment, but this year will teach my the strategies and give me the tools I need to continue to battle my addiction even once I am gone from this place. I was told that I can't keep a phone and once I am able to make phone calls, I will have to do so from the facilities phone at the designated time they give me. We end the tour in a room where a group is having a therapy session. People are talking about their addictions and they can do so freely without being judged. The last thing they do today is a physical and mental evaluation then they leave me alone to explore around. They made sure to let me know that I am not a prisoner and I can explore and get familiar with the place.

Day 91: I open my eyes and look around. The same white walls. The same walls I have been looking at for the past 3 months. It's a basic room with basic things, a bed, restroom, small dresser and small closet. I get up and get ready. Things have been going very well for me here. The phone calls were limited to once a week when I first arrived. Now that I have completed my first 90 days, I know I can receive visitors, but today they will explain all of it to me. So far my favorite thing to do here is be in group sessions. I like the fact that being here doesn't let me feel so alone in this. I feel like others understand me and of course, no-one here judges anyone else.

"Goodmorning, you have a visitor" Belinda, a counselor here walks in my room and tells me. I look up at her and smile. I wonder who is here so early. I haven't even gotten a chance to go outside yet. I slip my shoes on and hurry off behind her. She brings me over to the room where families normally meet with the patients who are staying more than 90 days and aren't checking out. "Marcus" I yell when I see him. He looks up from his phone. "Hey beautiful" he says and comes and hugs me. "I will let you both talk" Belinda tells us and leaves us alone. For the next hour, Marcus fills me in on everything. On my weekly calls, I didn't get to speak much to him. Most of the time, the kids were asking a bunch of questions. Seeing him here makes me realize how much I truly miss him. "All of the restaurants and bars are up and running, everything is good. The kids love going to work with me. Makayla loves anything to do with baking. Your mom is teaching her and she is so happy. I think when she grows up I am going to have to open up a bakery for her" he tells me and I smile and nod. That is amazing that my sweet little girl found something she likes doing already. "We all miss you Mayra and you look so good, so healthy" Marcus tells me. "I feel great and I am so happy to see you. When will the kids come?" I ask him. "Tomorrow. I just wanted to come and see you in person first and make sure you are okay and that you want to see them and the rest of your family" he tells me. "Yes, I am ready to see them all. I am so happy Marcus, I feel like myself again." I tell him. "I am so happy to hear that. Lets go speak to the director, because now that you have finished your first 90 days, she mentioned wanting to start family sessions. I want her to explain it all to us" he tells me. He grabs my hand and brings me with him to the director's office. "Mr. Brady, nice to see you again. Mayra, please take a seat" she tells us. She goes over everything. I ask questions, Marcus asks questions. We set up a schedule that works for him so he can come to the sessions with me. Once we are done, we walk around outside for a little bit, then he tells me he has to return to work. I am sad that he has to go, but now I have daily phone privilege, so I can speak to him everyday, atleast for a little bit. "I will make sure to always answer your calls beautiful" he tells me and I nod. He kisses the top of my head and pulls me in for a hug. "Just keep doing what you are doing and pretty soon you will be home with us" he tells me and kisses my head again. I walk him up to the front desk and wave goodbye. Atleast I will see him tomorrow when he brings the kids and I get to speak to him later tonight. I check the clock on the wall and it is 12pm. I decide to go to the midday group session. Maybe I can speak about Marcus and his visit today.