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1998 The St Lucien Hospital located in Queens, New York City, was busy with work that day. There were lots of patients to be attended to one at a time with limited men in white coats to do so. The nurses ran along the hallway like they were the busiest of them all, attending to Minor cases their jobs permitted. Meanwhile, in a small hospital room in the Maternity area, sat Catalina Ortiz whom had just put to birth less than 15hours ago. Her hair was in a messy bun and she looked exhausted but nevertheless, she carried her babies in her arms with such delight. They were twins. Since her husband left to go get the required medication the doctor had prescribed for her, she just sat there dazzled by their completely identical faces. Still surprised that she had produced such beautiful creatures. Once in a few minutes she brought their faces close to her mouth and kissed. They were beautiful!! Even the nurses had confirmed it. With their pales skins and tiny hands, they were asleep, with eyes tightly shut. They were resting in a Good light. The other new mothers had even woken up from their beds just to see the new babies who won the hearts of almost all the nurses who came by. And they were hit by a chill air of Jealousy as they confirmed the nurses praises towards the twin babies. Lovely pair of Angels. A few hours later, Catalina saw her husband Carlos walk back into the room holding the small bag of medications and another nylon Occupied his other hand. “Hey” he said as he came close, he leaned down and kissed her temple while passing a glance at his babies. He looked like he was very happy too, Overwhelmed was the right word. “They’re still asleep” he whispered “I brought you some food and vitamins” “Thank you” Carlos turned the food into a clean plate by the side, poured her a cup of sourced water and placed on the Old wooden small cupboard by her bed where she could easily reach. “Thank you honey” she said Then he sat next to her on the bed, “Give the babies to me, so you’ll eat” Catalina nodded then very carefully, put the babies one by one in both of Carlos’s arms. He cuddled them softly, looking at his wife with a smile. Catalina ate to her full and drank her medication. They were still asleep all the same. For a moment she and her husband were just quiet, listening to the slow steady breaths of their babies and the rise and fall of their small fragile chests. A smile played around her lips. It still felt like a dream. “Keira and Sierra” she murmured, catching her husband’s attention. “Do you like it?” She asked “Keira and Sierra ” he repeated more to know how well the names could sound in his ears, then he nodded “Sera and Kira Ortiz are great choices” Catalina stayed in the hospital a few days later, so the doctor could make sure she was perfectly fine to go home and in the fifth day, she was discharged. Carlos had hired a taxi, which took Catalina, the twins and their stuff back to their block. The Afro-Caribbean couple from Puerto-Rico lived in a small low quality apartment in Queens. The most of which Carlos’s job allowed him to afford. And as Carlos’s paid the cab, Catalina with her babies in her arms looked at the tall Old and dirty Building which they lived in, with a worried stricken face, she desperately wished things could be better. ‘Stacs and Litto’ was no place for babies. Infact Queens was no place for raising kids. The back to back street fights, the police raid, the low standards of living and backward economy, it was just alot to take in. “Let’s go honey” Carlos said. He grabbed the bags and led her in. Up the broken stairs and dirty hallway till they got to their apartment door ROOM 304, the number was already peeling off because of age, and the door if not handled with extreme caution could fall apart. Carlos turned the doorknob and the door opened and just when Catalina was about to ask why he didn’t lock the door, she saw her neighbors in her apartment. Mrs Smith, Mrs Allaway and Trisha, her best friend. “Welcome home” They said in Unison as if they had been practicing a number of times before she got there Catalina was surprised, she smiled as she made her way in. “Carlos told us you was comin’ back today and we thought it right to clean and atleast fix somethin’ up so you could come back and have a thing or two to eat” Mrs Allaway said “Oh My, thank you” she said looking around the small apartment, she knew when she stepped in that something was strange. Everywhere felt fresh and the lovely aroma coming from the small table which served as a dining table by the side made her mouth water. “Thank you all very much” Mrs Allaway was Catalina’s closest neighbor, a black woman in her forties with two teenage kids and her husband had the same job as Carlos’s. They had been very kind and welcoming when the Ortiz couple had moved in two years back. While Mrs Smith lived on the last door down the hall, she was more closer in age with Catalina, her husband had been killed in a Cross fire in the streets between the gangs and the police squad and she had one son in college, she gave birth at a very young age But she was also very nice. Trisha lived two blocks away from the building. “And Catalina, we sorry we wasn’t able to come and see you in the hospital, you know with work and whatna gettin’ in the way. Noone is free on the workin’ days” Mrs Smith explained “Mrs Smith, I completely understand and it’s fine. This—-what you guys have done for me—-thank you so much” she said Her best friend, Trisha walked by her side to peep at the babies, “Oh my beautiful babies” she said, and seeing that she was very eager to carry them, Catalina carefully placed one of her babies in Trisha’s arms while Mrs Smith stretched her arms for the other. “Oh my Lord gracious, Catalina” Mrs Smith exclaimed immediately she held the baby “You gave birth to Clones” Catalina simply smiled What are they names?” Mrs Allaway asked “Sierra and Keira” Catalina responded “Can you differentiate which is which?” Mrs Smith asked “Of course silly, she’s the mother” Trisha replied “I can, but i gotta admit, the first days i myself was confused but i think it gets easier everyday” Catalina said softly and Mrs Smith nodded her head. “Come eat hon, we know you must be starved. Come” Mrs Allaway said as she led Catalina to the small table “Y’all come join me please” “Don’t bother ‘bout us Cathy just eat, you eatin’ for three” Trisha told her. Catalina smiled as Mrs Allaway served her while Carlos carried the bags inside. By nine Pm, everyone left.“If you need anythin’, help ‘bout washing babies and all, lemme know okay?” Mrs Allaway said as she left the door “I will and once more, thank you all very much”Catalina answered, giving both Mrs Smith and Allaway a hug each. She turned to Trisha when they left. “Now you get some rest, sure you don’t want me to sleep over?” Trisha asked because when she first asked, Catalina had kindly rejected the idea for a good cause that is. “Tris, you got work tomorrow, I can’t let you bear old grumpy Madam Lola’s wrath cause of me” Catalina explained Trisha rolled her eyes “Who cares? That old miserable lady can go to hell” Madam Lola was a rich, old woman whom Trisha and Catalina worked for as Cleaners. (Or maids) “I care, nobody wanna be losing a job in this economy. I’ll be fine. Go home kay?” Trisha hesitated but said “Okay” “Thank you” Catalina have her a big hug “Now you get some sleep too” Trisha told her “I will” “Bye” “Good night” Catalina stood by her door, watching Trisha god own the stairs and as soon as she was out of sight, she entered the house and closed her door.