She was awoken by a bright light blinding her face. She shielded her face from the light with her palm and yawned. The atmosphere was calmer but it was even darker. She stood up stretching her limbs and massaging her ankles. Every room had their lights on now. Her head was throbbing but she was more aware of her environment now. It was 7.15pm. "Come in here and have supper with me, sassy doll" She heard him say."You have to eat you know, to be strong" he said coming out of the room towards her with a plate of fat chicken in his hands and a glass of milk. The chicken had a putrid smell and Juana was sure the milk was stale too. He squatted before her, dropping the meal and she realized that he had been drinking. He had a bottle of half-empty alcohol in his back pocket"Eat" he commanded"I want to go home" she mumbled tearfully"This is home, baby. All you ever need is here" "What do you want from me?" She asked with a straight face. She didn't want to let him see her fear."I just

Juana climbed into bed feeling very sad. Tears welled up in her eyes. Could any good news come about her mom? She was as good as dead. But if she wanted to hear her voice, she always did hear it. She only had to close her eyes and imagine her still alive and around, calling her to come help in the kitchen. As soon as she opened her eyes, her voice was gone.She felt terrible for getting her father emotional. He was trying to be happy and she had just come to spoil his mood. It was almost dinnertime when her granny returned with groceries and rice and chicken and a lot of sweet potatoes. She began to prepare dinner and it only made Juana's mood worse because it felt like she was trying to replace mom. She tried not to show it too much that she was mad at both of them for not talking about mom anymore. She heard and perceived the sound and smell of her cooking from her room, and refused to come out even when her granny came knocking to say 'Dinner is ready, darling' She felt like shout