Is morning time. A day for the Virgin and "alumbrados". A dark blue Willis station wagon nears outside a typical house. Inside, mother and daughter are having a hard time exchanging words. Liliana breaks the news to her mother. Eduardo comes to see his girlfriend, but hesitates and stays outside. "So all along you were seeing this good for nothing," an exasperated Mother says. "Mom I wanted to change my life, since you raised me on your own...". The outraged Mother stops her, "Enough! I'd rather... I did work hard to raise you... all those nights you were coming late. Yes, Now I figure it out. You better clean that heavy lipstick. Is so disgusting". Liliana gets so exasperated. She wants to hug her mother and maybe ask for forgiveness.
The bell rings, like announcing a terrible thing. Mother and daughter's heartbeating start to raise. "Who is it?" asks the mother. "I'll open mom". A tall figure appears. Is Eduardo, who armed himself with enough guts to face it all. "You told your mom?"
"What is he doing here, I told you, he is not welcome in my house"
"Sorry for disturbing your House Ms. Delia," replies Eduardo. Liliana is spechless. "Thought Liliana told you already," he says thinking there is not need for him to be there and not being really welcomed at all. "Mom, I want to start over and have my own... shape my won destiny. I know you never liked Eduardo, but...". "Liliana, Hija mia, in the first place, he was opposed to get you educated and second of all, all he did was illicit things around this small town. He knows what I'm talking about"
"MS. Delia, I want to go straight to the point... since I don't see any sense in asking for your blessings," says himself, raising his voice. "What you gonna tell me? that you gonna defile her hopes? take her away from me?"
"Eduardo, just tell my mom... this is really breaking me down to tears," says Liliana. He holds her and... "We are gonna get married pretty soon and I ask you to let your daughter, my Princess... move in with me since I'm not welcome..."
"Listen to me! How in the world are you gonna take care of my daughter! huh? Practically she paid for all her studies... on her own"
"Well, Ms Delia, I wanted to let you know that I made some money from a lottery pool, and that gives me a chance to mend my mistakes and wrongdoings". He sounds sincere, but a mother never makes a mistake. She knows way too much about him. "Mom, he is willing to change and he even bought a jeep to help himself and help Don Ramiro at the "ingenio"
"Liliana, I'm getting way too old for making decisions about your future, and there are moments in life where... I only can advice and warn you. You know your grandma was very strict when I was coming out. And you! MISTER, better be clear and don't take my reactions as hatred. You have a mother too; just wanna make it clear: If you gonna take care of her, you take care of her for good. Do I make sense Sir?"

    Eduardo lost track of her girlfriend's last address. A week ago he was crossing the border, now he is in the country where she came three months ago. He feels completely. Everything is new for him. A new world, a new start. Luckily, at the restaurant they speak his language. Moments later he is walking near the ALAMO a few blocks from downtown... suddenly a Toyota CAMRY with tilted glasses, stops near him, is Chito Raza, the guy who helped him to get into the states. "Thought you can help us, since you don't have a job, besides you told me you are from Colombia. "Nice to see you again, Raza mi hermano," reacts Eduardo. "Hurry up and get in". Eduardo immediately gets in with no hesitation and they fleed getting lost passing over the San Antonio River.

CHITO RAZA'S HOME

An arsenal with high-tech weapons is shown, the dim light make us think is underground. Eduardo looks pale but awared of the situation. "Our friends from the MS-13 have a precious cargo, that unfortunately our boss had committed his ass to," says Chito when Eduardo interrupts him. "I did some dealings with the insurgents in my own country, but this is bold. what makes you think I'm gonna take this thing to the East coast?". Chito looks to his men, and pretending to have control of everything, lights a cigarette. "If you get involved, we can find the whereabouts of your girlfriend and... we offer a good deal of cash, perhaps an easy way to get you legal in American soil too. The point is... so many organizations are watching our back, even thugs from other gangs. Is a one way ticket for you I know, but what's the difference.. huh?, don't you think living in your Country was also dangerous and unjust?," remarks Chito. "You don't know what I went through, and I'm tired of you guys considering me as a 'guinea pig' for violence," answers Eduardo. "My friend, I tried my best to get you initiated in this deal, and since you don't seem to change in our favor,"
"I see the risk and my little knowledge on a foreign land," says Eduardo. "Would you consider our offer if I get you in contact with your girlfriend?," says Chito. Still undeterred Eduardo asks, "You think this is an easy situation? This is too real and my own life is in danger," answers Edyardo. "I wanna be straight and clear Eduardo. A hundred grand and this cell with a special feature: Your novia's phone number is already saved in the Simcard, how about that?"

   After a long trip, Eduardo descends from the Greyhound Bus, A few steps ahead is Liliana at the waiting gate. He runs to her and have the best hug and kiss they ever felt in months. "You don't know, Amor. I think I made a mistake in coming to see you," says Eduardo kissing her and holding her cheek to trying to measure up the situation. "No hunny, I have friends around and they know how to get you away from those people," replies Liliana. "Your mother was right, I still need to grow up to deserve and win your love," affirms Eduardo. "let's go. A friend of mine is waiting outside, we are heading for the countryside..."

   A depressive downtown in this steel mill suburb city, Eduardo and Liliana look so foreign around these middle class citizens. They come out from a supermarket with a cart full of groceries, next to them are Patty and her husband Bob and a little hispanic boy, Enrique, 11. Is rough in here, but my promise to Enrique's dad is still alive. This boy changed our lives and therefore, we are here to help," says Bob as he starts driving away. We are very in debt Sir, and as I told Eduardo, only God's hand put me in your way at the right moment and the right time," says Liliana. "This is a quiet town, we are in the real heartland of America, besides Enrique is a blessing for us, being retired people," remarks Patty. Eduardo is just trying to understand them as Enrique tries to translate to him. The car is heading up on a hill road where they live. From a corner comes a Land Rover against the traffic and blocks them. The worst feeling takes hold of the Senior citizens and the hispanics, as they see 4 guys in black coming out quickly with Automatic handguns. Eduardo is the first one to jump and try to escape but is caught, the rest are held at gun point. Enrique burst into tears and denies the reality of what he sees. "Noo!, please no!" screams the little child. At fast speed, Liliana and Eduardo are taken away, as some elder neighbors witness the action. Practically left to their own speechless and paralized. The Police gets there in five minutes but is too late...
 

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