Chapter 20
1470 Words
Vicente
Everything was a blur.
Ines’ anger and hurt in her eyes was clear but I didn’t know why it was there.
She had slammed the door in my face after sending me away with so much hatred in her voice.
What happened?
Only a day ago she looked at me with so much tenderness and spoke lovingly. What was happening?
“Ay, niño, come off the clouds. Help over here,” the Captain Tito said.
Tito was an older man, probably around my fathers age, who had accompanied me for every voyage.
He had a large and beautiful ship called “La Estrella”, The Star , that was quick and elegant. Arriving to new countries to meet investors and clients in such a ship helped convince them that I was worth their time.
“What is with you today?” Tito asked when I almost dropped a crate.
“Nothing.” I said solemnly.
“Don’t lie to me, what’s got your head up in the clouds?”
I thought back to Ines.
I had tried getting to her; I knocked again and again on the door. I begged to see her and even her parents tried reasoning with her. She was angry and hurt and none of us knew why. I had stayed outside her home waiting for hours, wanting to talk to her.
I wanted to tell her I loved her and I wanted to devote myself to her. But she wouldn’t speak to me; she wouldn’t leave her room.
It had gotten so late that Señor Hector advised me to go home. The anger in his eyes was gone and they were full of pity and confusion.
“Go home Vicente, you have to rest. You have your trip tomorrow.”
I rubbed my eyes and looked up at Ines’ window, not wanting to leave.
“Vicente, go. She won’t come out, not tonight.”
It took Señor Hector much convincing to get me to leave, but when I did I told him to relay one last message to Ines.
“Tell her I’ll be back for her. I’ll come home to her, and I’ll think of her and miss her while I’m away. Señor Hector please just tell her that.”
I must have seemed desperate because he only nodded and watched me walk away.
“Are you sure you are ok to still go on this trip? It is a month long at sea. You know how it can get.” Tito said eyeing me carefully.
I nodded. Maybe stepping away and giving Ines time to breathe or think, or whatever it was that she needed, would help.
I knew I loved her. And I knew I’d come back for her.
That would never change.
I just needed her to remember that.
Ines
I sat out near a cliff that was distant from the house.
Vicente would leave today and although I had originally planned on saying goodbye in person and holding him one last time, maybe even kiss his cheek, I sat by myself instead.
Ma and Pa continued to try and talk to me; they wanted to know why I was so upset with Vicente. The roles had switched-now they were the ones vouching for him.
I had excused myself and gone to the market early in the morning only to have bumped into Dolores.
She looked at me with disgust and made a remark that almost made me punch her.
“I don’t see what all the fuss is about with you,” she said as she rolled her eyes and looked over my shoulder.
A man in a red coat had quickly turned around and walked away but I could only imagine that they were gawking at me.
What had that disgusting man called me?
Exotic?
Disgusting.
When I had started to see the ships near the port I left. I practically ran home, not wanting to risk seeing Vicente. If I did see him I’d crumble, I’d melt into his arms.
However, when I approached the house I heard my parents laughing inside. I didn’t want to deal with their questioning so I ran to the cliff-the one where I sat.
The sun was beginning to settle and it caused such a beautiful orange glow on the water. The waves were still calm on some areas but further out I saw them growing. They were colliding with one another and it never ceased to amaze me at how powerful the sea was.
It was never ending, strong, terrifying and yet pure and beautiful.
Before my world had crumbled, I had imagined a life where I lived by the sea. In a beautiful yellow home with a large kitchen and even larger yard. It would be close to the water enough where I could smell and hear it but far enough to stay dry and safe.
I had imagined waking up to the sound of the waves, but most importantly, next to Vicente.
It had been so clear, it had been so close.
And then it was gone..
“What you thinking about hermosa?” A deep voice said behind me.
I immediately stood and turned.
I was unaware of the man that stood before me but when he smiled, it clicked.
He was the man from the bar.
And he was the man from earlier.. He was wearing a red jacket.
He was one who had talked to Vicente-the one who had fondled the woman on his lap.
The one who spoke disgusting things of me.
“I knew it was you,” he said grinning.
His teeth sparkled, almost as bright as the jewelry he had on him. Particularly the ruby ring on his finger.
“What do you want?” I asked, taking a step back.
“I just wanted to get to know you, I’ve heard such amazing things about you,” He said with a tone that terrified me. He looked me up and down-as if I were a meal.
“I must leave,” I said trying to get around him but he blocked the way.
I knew what he wanted-I had heard him talk about it. I knew what men like him were capable of.
“Oh no, don’t leave. I just got here!”
“My husband-he’s expecting me.” I said, trying to scare him off.
“Oh darling we know that’s a lie. I know all about you now.. Ines…” he said my name with a smile. “I just want to get to know you a little better.”
I stepped back even more when I noticed his eyes trail to my breasts.
I wanted to hurl.
“I need to leave, please move,” I said softly, so scared. I couldn’t get away, he was cornering me to the edge of the cliff.
I could hear the waves even more.
“Just stay for a little, trust me,” he said. The dim sunlight shone off his dark and grey hair. He looked like a wolf.. He was hunting.
I was the prey.
Suddenly, his smile was gone when I was too close to the edge.
“Just come here Ines. You know there is no other way out.”
I looked behind me and all I saw was the ocean. The cliff was so high up and I felt dizzy looking down, a little away from the cliff was a grand ship and I could see the crew.
“Don’t try screaming, they won’t hear you Ines. And you’re too far from home for your dear father to hear you too.” The man said laughing.
Panic began to rise in my chest.
He was getting too close to me.
He reached out and I screamed. “STOP! DON’T TOUCH ME!”
He glared at me but smiled at the same time. “Oh that’s not happening Ines.. you’re going to get to know me very well. And the first thing is that I always get what I want.”
I looked behind me again, terror filing my lungs.
“I knew I’d find you. And now I have.”
I turned and glared at him-he was sick. He was a menace.
There was no way I was going to let him touch me. He would not have his way with me.
“Come to me sweet one. Don’t make me lose my temper,” he said reaching out again.
He was close to grabbing my arm but I jumped back.
I took in a deep breath and spit at him.
“Go to hell.”
And then I jumped.
I jumped off the cliff and into the water, hoping I’d make it out alive.
But anything was better than letting that man win.
- Writer
