July

Chencha came to John’s house bringing ox-tail soup that completely healed me. I started to talk again after eating the soup. I was so glad to see Chencha. She missed me very much; this whole time she thought I was in the asylum! She gave me a letter from Gertrudis. I was so happy to see Chencha again and hear about Gertrudis. And guess what: John asked me for his hand in marriage!!!! I was very happy and told him that I would marry him. I must admit I do not feel the same passionate love for him as I do for Pedro, but I am sure it will come. I was going to live a happy life with John and his son Alex and never going to return to the ranch again. Unfortunately, that day while Chencha was returning to the ranch, bandits attacked!!! The paralyzed my Mama from the waist down and raped Chencha! I could not believe it! I returned to the ranch to make sure they were OK and to help them heal. My mother was so rude to me, even when I tried to help her. Every time I brought her food, she would say that it was bitter and she would not eat it. She came up with this crazy idea that I was trying to poison her! How could she think such a thing!?! I am not a fan of my mother but I would not kill her. But anyway, she did not last long. She died. At first I was relieved that she died. I did not have to worry about her constantly ruining my life any more. However, when I was cleaning out her room, I found out about her deepest secret that made me feel sorry for her. There was once a time when she had a true love that she could not be with: Jose Trevino. She had a secret affair with him, and even had a child with him: my sister, Gertrudis! One night, he was attacked and killed. Mama became very upset. I truly was sad for and wept for Mama Elena at her funeral. I wept for her horrid past and the love that she lost. I just do not understand though – why would she enforce tradition onto me if it caused her to be separate from her true love?