Alina’s Redemption

ALINA'S POVHow did everything I worked and toiled for months all come crashing down like this?I pondered, as I balanced the half-full stainless bucket on the floor back to the center of the room I was staying in. It had been raining for the past few days and the leak in my room ceiling had been getting worse and worse over the months. How could I have been so blind?'You could borrow some money and go back.' A voice said in my head.I killed the thought immediately. I couldn't borrow money without a means to pay back, that would be very foolish. In fact I couldn't go back. Not like this. What would I tell my people? My parents. No puedo. The pain would kill them. The embarrassment they'd have to face all because of my stupidity.Gomes had ended things between us when I told him I was pregnant a few months ago. "How did you let this happen, Alina?" He had asked coldly when I told him. "I thought you girls took pills or something to prevent something like this from happening, so why

With the help of Vanessa and Charlotte I moved out of Washington after a couple of days. They promised to cover up for me when Hector— the landlord and Señor Alonso's friend— asked about me. I wanted to go to either Nevada or California, but I couldn't make up my mind. When I asked Nessa and Charlotte, they had each picked a side between the two, so the day before I left Pullman, I flipped a coin over it; heads for California and tails for Nevada. It landed on heads. That was settled.Vanessa and Charlotte had tried their best to make sure I would be comfortable wherever I decided to stay, they had given me powder, some clothes, oil and Charlotte even insisted on giving me some foodstuff."No. I can't take it." I protested when they gave me an envelope containing some dollar bills."Don't be silly, girl!" They had scolded me.I was in the fifth month of my pregnancy when I arrived in San Jose, California. In normal circumstances I would have been ecstatic about moving to the famous G

It was a nice peaceful Saturday. Niguez was still sleeping, he had outgrown his cradle and was sleeping on the small bed in the centre of the room. I folded the little mat I had used to sleep on the floor got up and tucked him in so he would feel more comfortable. He had grown so fast, a few days from today he would be two, meaning it would have been two. Two whole years since I gave birth. Wow. I felt a bit guilty when I got up and saw him lying on the bed. I couldn't provide for him as well as he deserved, the dish washing and laundry job I was working didn't provide for any more than little food and rent. I had tried to start doing delivery services for a small firm some time ago, but it was a disaster because I had to pay for my own transport wherever I was going to deliver, at the end of the day the money I was paid and what I spent on transport was almost the same. I quit the following week. I opened the door and picked up the mail on the porch, the newspapers were always i

ALINA POV"Can I get everyone's attention please." Clarence Jacobs said as he stood in front of the crowd of workers in the firm's large hall. "Some of you might be wondering why I we are all gathered here today. The company will be throwing a party to celebrate the completion of our latest high-speed, 4G telecom tower in San Jose!" He announced.There was a loud round of applause from the audience including me. When the applause had died down he continued."This new tower will enable a faster, stronger and more secure connection for us to work better and more efficiently while also serving our customers better. It is a major breakthrough here in the minority part of California. There is no doubt we will be having more investors from far and wide and eventually overseas. So the management has decided to throw a bash tomorrow evening in honour of this achievement. You all deserve it." He said and there was another round of applause, and cheers from the crowd."Be sure to attend the par

ALINA POV"Hey are you okay there?" He asked, racing across the street to help me up.I closed my eyes in embarrassment, he hadn't seen me yet but there was no escaping now. My hair was messy, I was in my pajamas and worse? I didn't have a bra on. How delightful.He helped me up to my feet. His eyes widened when he saw my face."Alina?!" He asked, visibly shocked. What… what are you doing here?" "Oh, Trent." I said, forcing a smile. I was embarrassed and I couldn't help feeling annoyed that he had seen me just when I prayed he wouldn't. "Uhh.. I live in Gordon's Drive, that's about two blocks away.""Wow." He said smiling. "So, What's up? No work today for either of us huh?""Nope." I smiled. Uh.. Trent?" "Yeah?" He answered."You said you live here but I don't think I've ever seen you around this area before." I said. That part didn't quite make much sense to me."Oh, that. I just moved in. Actually I just moved in this morning." He smiled. "Soni guess we're kind of neighbors now o