The obedient girl marched and was soon integrated with the others, what a boisterous play organized by some volunteers.
"It's been tremendous, really. You will wonder how I am in this situation.
"I really do not understand. I imagine it has to do with your daughter, "she replied.
From the time she came and had been observing from afar at the beginning, she was looking for a woman to accompany them. But so far there were no signs. That intrigued her.
"Life has not smiled at us since we stopped seeing each other. Yes there were several years of peace but was always alternated with profound changes. And the final one forced us into this damn trip! "He muttered angrily.
She tried to calm him down, for she could feel the rage in his watered eyes again.
"Dassim is dead, Victoria. She drowned in the sea, I could not save her ... I could not ...
The pain was broken in two, but the noisy return of his daughter forced him to remake and put his best face. The girl did not want to go too far, you could tell, and that was logical, she thought. So that was it, Dassim was her mother. With good sense she had thought she saw familiar features.
Certain irrational jealousies came into her for a few seconds and she immediately forced herself to think and put aside the nonsense. Life had gone on for both of them, who had sought to conform and to remake themselves.
The second thing she felt was pity, for all of them. How terrible, poor Dassim to end that way! Poor little girl, who knows what situations she had to face and now this! To see her mother die like that.
She knew that the details would come later and also would only add context to a desperate situation that had to be addressed.
She decided to focus on that side. Cool your head and postpone what you felt so as to do what is best: collaborate. The other would come or not later. It was not time for selfishness, and proclaiming her love and looking for his response, right now.
-We must think about what steps to take from here and further. What are your plans? I will help you in whatever I can.
"I want to go back to Spain and rebuild my life there. With my daughter. I must see the legal part and plan ...
"Let's start with the first one. Right here is legal counseling. Do you have the girl's papers? Yours?
He looked for them in response and quickly Victoria took them and started the actions on her own. He realized that he needed time.
Twenty five
Carrying out the relevant legal inquiries and procedures took several days, which happened to be spent lodging in a nearby hotel. Times were on her side since the situation of Usem and his daughter was by far less complicated than that of the other refugees.
The next thing was to think about his insertion into Spain itself. There were similar centers to which they were all along the coast, more in the mind of Victoria was forging another idea. But for this one she had to consult and thought with her family, and also to have the acquiescence of Usem.
She thought it was best because it would help him start from a friendlier environment, as well as get in touch with friends and family if he had them.
This is what she tried to explain to her frantic mother by phone the third night in Ceuta.
"I'll tell you everything's fine." Usem and her daughter are safe and sound and their legal status is a matter of weeks.
"I think it's great that you help them, but what about your job?" Miguel does not stop calling worried about you.
"I'll fix it, calm down. This is an unexpected popup that I must attend to.
She knew that chatting with Miguel was a pending and necessary matter, but postponed it by the tenor of the situation in which she was immersed. She was not sure he would understand what was going on, let alone caring or liking it.
"Mother ..." She looked for way to put her idea into her.
"I do not know what to tell you, I understand the situation, but I am worried about you. It took time and therapy to overcome the situation you experienced in Africa, the bad part and the good part. I'm afraid this will overwhelm you and will give you false expectations.
"I'm fine, Mom. Only I have thought and I want to consult you, that the best thing to help them is to take them with me to Barcelona - she said this waiting for the answer.
This delayed to arrive, because her mother made a silence full of thought.
"You're getting into trouble, daughter ... I'm not going to stop you from helping this man." God knows that I am grateful that he saved you in your time. But I do not bode well for this.
"Stay calm and have faith. I owe this at least to him
Finding out that she was not going to find any iron opposition on the other side reassured her. She knew that her help had a deep hidden interest: the love for Usem had resurfaced intact. Every fiber of her body responded to him.
But she could see their distance, probably woven by the chances of fate and perhaps by the forgetfulness of what they had lived. Impossible to know.
The contacts they had were those of two friends who were meeting at the worst moment of one of them. She was the stick and he was holding it. She was willing to play, help and wait. Even when things were resolved against her expectations, it was what she had to do.
Once resolved the most complex part of the paperwork she proposed her idea to a disoriented Usem, who accepted with great gratitude her offer.
"What you do for us is more than I deserve." But I thank you and I accept it for Titrit. She is my north now, I must strengthen myself for her.
A quick trip took them to Malaga and from there to Barcelona. The girl was ecstatic and she kept gesturing and screaming with pleasure. Usem traveled in silence, deep in thought. Victoria prayed that everything would turn out well, she did not know what would happen once settled with her parents.
They were waiting for them at the airport and greeted them with energy, putting the best will and understanding.
Her mother immediately picked Titrit under her wing; she loved children and had a postponed desire to be a grandmother.
"Come, my dear. I have bought you some sweets, you must be hungry and anxious. Do not worry, I've reserved a lovely room in my house. I can not wait for you to see it.
The girl smiled shyly and accepted the outstretched hand and the sweets.
"Thank you," Usem said seriously after greeting and introducing themselves to each other. You do not know how much I value your hospitality. I will not abuse it, I promise. As soon as I contact my family and settled, we're off.
"You do not have to thank us, we owe you." You were the one who rescued and gave us the chance to get our daughter back alive. "We're happy to be able to help you now," the father said sincerely.
"Our house is big and that's been a motive to complain at times. Now we are happy, because we will be able to give you more life, "added the mother.
She was anxious and it was evident in her chatter that she was beginning to make Victoria nervous, since she afraid she would get in the way by her questions. She had not been told exact details of the tragedy.
"Well, come on, let's go see if we can get comfortable," she said quickly, taking retreat.
The others followed her, with the little cargo they had. The only thing of value was their lives, everything else had been lost.
Twenty six
That night, after dinner and the early retreat of the impromptu guests, her mother rushed over to tear out data, see her impressions, and analyze firsthand what was going through her daughter's head.
"Divine child, no doubt. The rather meager father ...
"It is natural, given the circumstances they have gone through.
She told her what she knew, which were mostly headlines that Usem had not developed, because he did not open them too much. Her mother was very sorry.
"Poor child, so small," she muttered. "And what does he intend to do?"
This worried her. Obviously she was sorry for what he had suffered, but she wished Victoria would not commit her future after the ch
imera he represented, as she saw it.
"He has some relatives of her mother who he plans to contact. And he has studies and work experience.
"Years ago, and you know how hard to get job is ..."
"Enough," she snorted, although she knew she had a point in those words. "Things can not get worse?" We must have hope.
This closed the dialogue. Left alone with herself, Victoria begged for everything to be all right. She decided that next morning she would resume work and talk to Miguel. Her life was upside down and she could not afford this. For her mental health but also for Miguel.
The next morning both she and Usem got up early and met in the kitchen. They greeted each other with some timidity; Amazingly it was the really first lonely moment since they had met again.
Once seated sharing the frugal breakfast, Usem looked at her and reached out to take her hand.
"You have been a light in this dark period that I have had to live ... Almost like a beacon in the storm.
His voice sounded slow and measured. He smiled with his look, every line of that beloved face, appreciating again that peculiar beauty that the years had not been able to drop.
Just as he remembered it, just as he had dreamed it for years. He reproached himself for thinking this way when his wife had just died. His fault. This made him withdraw his hand quickly. The gesture surprised Victoria.
"I will give you back what you did for me years ago and you know it.
"Your parents are wonderful ..."
"Mama has been captivated by your child. And who would not? She is lovely.
There was a silence in which both sought what to say.
"I'm going to get in touch with my uncles today. They have not heard from me for years, I do not know what their reaction will be, but I hope they would support me. They always did it with my mother, so I have hopes.
"Oh, yes," she said.
He would like to say much more, but it was clearly not the time or the place. "Would it ever be?" He wondered. Ready to start her day's work, she said goodbye.
Usem sat pensive in front of his coffee. His whole life began again. There she was this woman so dear, so desired. But he knew he could not think of her now, however much his heart had demanded. I owed it to Dassim's memory. I owe it to Titrit.
He had to act to take reins of his life, and it was vital to recover old bonds that would ease the way. This thought propelled him into action and took the lead to find the phone numbers and addresses of his two uncles. One of them lived in Madrid and the other in Valencia, so they were relatively close. He called them both immediately, though he could only communicate with one of them.
After the initial surprise at hearing of him after so much time elapsed, he showed his joy. It had been his beloved nephew, but then the distance and the time had separated them.
For Usem it was also pleasant to hear his voice; still remembered his visits and the support that his mother had always found in him.
He explained briefly his situation without going into details of what had happened in recent years. There would be time. He needed his support urgently to locate and start generating income that would allow him to stay, he explained. His uncle nodded and went straight to the point, something cut off. Usem could feel a certain reservation in his words.
"Of course I'll help you in whatever I can." But hey, we should talk in person and calmly. I guess you have not talked to Roberto yet.
This was the guy he had not been able to locate. The relationship with him had never been very fluid.
"No, not yet.
"Well, before you tell me otherwise, I'll tell you straight and short. There will be time to go deep. The crisis of the last few years has sucked his brain a little. You see ... "he choked.
-Come on, uncle. What's up? Tell me without fear, I have wide backs.
"When you left so untimely after the death of your mother, he was in charge of managing the inheritance. And then he also took care of what your mother would receive when our father died ...
"Inheritance," Usem thought. When he left, he had not even thought about what he left behind.
"The point is, the money that belong to you was supposed to be in an account in your name. However, I fear that a good part of it has disappeared embezzled by Roberto-he could feel his uncle’s grief in the voice.
"It's like being on a roller coaster all the time," he thought. His life was that.
"Look ... I need some quick help right now." A job, a house. Then and more calmly we will see what to do with what you tell me.
The seriousness of the matter was not lost on him, but his urgencies pushed him to solve the first issue. His uncle agreed and announced that he would travel the weekend to see him. He was anxious to meet his daughter.
The news surprised and even shocked Usem. In that thoughtful state Victoria's father found him, who inquired what was happening. His slow-paced account revealed a sense of uneasiness, which was struggling to come out but was still contained.
"The good part is that you kept in touch again and your uncle evidently appreciates you." The other is a more serious matter, but if you decide to proceed you will have time.
He nodded. The arrival of Titrit in the kitchen was preceded by laughter. She had risen and cleaned and was amazed by the enormous bathroom, with so many appliances and bottles and smells.
Usem smiled. She had forgotten that her daughter had never lived comfortably, and there were hundreds of things that this new world would bring her that would be a delight. It would take her time to discover and enjoy them.
This comforted his soul in part. He was safe and his future would be as bright as he deserved.
Twenty seven.
Activity was intense in the polyclinic and Victoria thanked it, because it prevented her head from torturing her with the doubts that afflicted her.
Miguel was coming and going attending to patients and his gaze was stuck at every moment in her. She knew that it was imperative to talk to him, he had been on ember for days.
The untimely situation prevented her from explaining things properly. It would be better to admit that she was avoiding it, because she did not know how to deal with the dialogue. The description was simple, but not so much necessary definition that Miguel was going to ask, with all the reason in the world.
About midday he approached her and asked her to have lunch together. He was delicate enough to wait patiently for her to tell him what had happened.
She had disappeared practically the moment her partner seemed to have entered a more serious phase. It sounded like a flight with all the letters.
"It's been a long week, Miguel. You'll wonder what had happened.
-To say the least...
"It's almost a movie, I would not believe it myself if you told me." To really believe in fate.
-What do you mean? Do not go around with twists that I do not understand, "he said impatiently.
"I found Usem, you know who I'm talking about, right?"
Of course he knew, there was no way he could forget. She had been very clear about the relationship with him. He would probably hate that he just showed up right now.
"How did you find him?" Where? "He asked with badly concealed anxiety.
She recounted exactly what had happened, trying to avoid further references to fate. What was a blessing to her was obviously the opposite to him. Just looking at his face showed his disappointment, which he tried to contain so as not to offend her.
He felt guilty. Possibly he saw Usem as a shadow of the past hovering over his plans for the future.
"But it is different, far, moderate," she continued.
She noticed that this brought him back to reality and encouraged him.
"Sure, it's years and circumstances. He has a daughter, he forged another life ...
These words sounded with some cruelty, in her sight.
"I'd like to meet him," he continued as a surprise to her. He has gone through a lot. Maybe I can help with something.
"Of course, come to dinner tonight. Mom is going to be very happy, you know how she adore you.
"Miguel arrives early" thought the father of Victoria when he saw him stop his sports car. He looked very composed and elegant.
He could not help but feel some discomfort at seeing him strut. He seemed too much paid for himself; not bad but very egocentric. His wife welcomed him as always. She would love to have him as a son-in-law.
He greeted everyone and was introduced to the guests. His face was a mask of sympathy, but bet that he could not avoid showing his real thinking before Usem. And indeed he greeted him haughtily, though only he seemed to notice the detail. The two gauged each other by looks.
"Two worlds collide," he thought. "The nomad without luck and the doctor paid for himself."
He encouraged the talk as far as he could, although this was inexorably sprinkled with references to the tragedy experienced by Usem and his daughter.
What interested Miguel more were the news Usem had received. Evidently he hoped that he could soon have a family help for him to move on with his life.
"I hope your uncle can lend you a hand and settle the inheritance," he heard him say politely. In this country things are difficult, especially if you must start from scratch.
He could not help but notice that the look between Usem and his daughter was intense, but the man looked away.
"What would happen to that mind?" He wondered. That Victoria was until the marrow was clear. Whether or not corresponded by Usem, that feeling would last, as it had done so many years. They had thought it would disappear, but what the seed was waiting for was for the right conditions to appear. And reborn.
At the end of the evening he saw she accompany Miguel to bid him farewell.
As he approached Usem for a chat, he was not surprised that he asked him about Miguel. He had seen their elusive glances, which sought to get an idea of the role that man played in Victoria's life.
Migrant Hearts Page 11