Víctoria Santiago(Vicky)

Prologue

Hello! My name is Victoria Alanna Santiago Fisher, but my friends call me Vicky. Today, I am turning 18 years old, and my life so far has been a rollercoaster ride. I live in Venezuela, and my dream is to finish my degree in Physiotherapy. My mother is the light of my eyes, my inspiration, and my drive to succeed. She is a beautiful woman with gorgeous blue eyes, resembling the sea. My father passed away when I was a baby, but from the pictures I have, I can tell you he was handsome like a movie star. It's a shame I didn't get the chance to spend time with him; he would have been amazing and a great father. Physically, I am the female version of my father - with cinnamon skin, reddish-brown hair, and brown eyes. Although my father left me financially secure for the future, I haven't needed to rely on that money. I have always enjoyed working and studying.

My mother lives with her current husband, who, despite her denial, is a complete jerk. He always drinks excessively and gets drunk literally every day. He takes advantage of my mother's kindness, and although I've tried to help her and insisted on them separating, I can't seem to make it happen. She is seven months pregnant now, and I fear that this idiot might harm her and my little brother.

You must be wondering where I live. Well, ever since my mother started living with that drunken fool, I moved out of my house three years ago, right after finishing high school. I live in an apartment close to my university. I have been a very independent girl, and I strive for top grades in my studies. Thanks to all the effort I've put in, I am only one year away from obtaining my bachelor's degree.

My Father

My Mother Victoria

Monday, October 18th, 2010, at Mom's house.

Mom Victoria: Daughter, how wonderful of you to come. I made you a birthday cake. It's your favorite! Filled with dulce de leche and coconut. Congratulations, my child. Your father would be so proud of the wonderful woman you've become.

(Seeing my mother's smile brightens my gaze)

Vicky: Mom, thank you so much. You really didn't have to go through the trouble of making it. Not that I don't love it, of course. I have the best baking mom in the world. But look at you! You can barely manage with your big belly. By the way, are you alone?

Mom Victoria: Yes, dear. Samuel is at work, don't worry.

(Samuel is my mother's current husband. I don't like coming to see her much because we don't get along, and I know my mother is in trouble when she finds out that I visit her. She says I fill her head with garbage.)

Vicky: Ok, Mom! I just hope he hasn't hit you again. I swear, if he lays a finger on you or my little brother, I'll put him in jail.

Mom Victoria: Daughter, I've told you, Samuel doesn't hit me. I'm just clumsy and always bump into things.

Vicky: Yeah, right, Mom! And this time, you happened to bump into his fist. But let's change the subject; I don't want to ruin my day. Have you found the perfect name for my little brother yet?

Mom Victoria: No, not yet, dear. I haven't found the ideal name for this little prince. So, tell me, how are things going with university and work? Also, how did you like the cake?

(My brother hasn't been born yet, and even though I know his father is a jerk, I love him with all my life. I'm sure I would give my life for that little intruder inside my mom.)

Vicky: The cake, as usual, Mom, was delicious. I'll take half of it home with me. My classes and work are going great. In fact, I have to go now, Mom. I have a class at 9, and then I need to go to the rehabilitation center to work. Bless you, Mom! Goodbye. I love you.

(I said goodbye to my mom and went to my class, then to work. The truth is, I didn't choose the wrong career. I love this profession. I've always enjoyed helping others, and what better way than this? Here, the hours fly by.)

(It's almost 7 in the evening, and I'm on my way home when I receive a call.)

Unknown: Good evening, a family member of Mrs. Fisher. (I felt a chill run through my body and a strong pain in my chest)

Victoria: Good evening. I am her daughter. Who am I speaking to?

Unknown: This is Central Hospital calling. Your mother has just been admitted with multiple injuries. She is currently undergoing surgery, and we need you to sign the authorization.

(Oh no, not my mother. I felt as if a dagger had pierced my heart. Tears filled my eyes. What happened? I left her perfectly fine this morning.)

Vicky: I'm on my way there, sir. Thank you for letting me know.

(I took the first taxi I found and immediately arrived at the hospital.)

Vicky: Good evening, nurse. I'm Victoria Santiago Fisher, and I was told my mother is here.

Nurse: Good evening, young lady. I was the one who called you. Your mother was admitted in critical condition. She received multiple blows, and at the moment, everything possible is being done to save her and her baby's life. I need you to sign here, please.

(I didn't know what to do. I felt helpless. My mother and my brother hanging between life and death, and here I was, unable to do anything. I took the papers and signed.)

Victoria: Nurse, I'm sorry, could you please tell me who brought my mother or who made the call?

Nurse: It was the police who brought her, actually. In the waiting room, there's an officer waiting for a family member to give all the information.

Victoria: Thank you!

(I walked towards the waiting room. I needed to know what had happened.)

Victoria: Good evening! I'm Victoria Santiago. I was told you could give me information about what happened to my mother.

Officer: Good evening, Miss Santiago. Indeed, I was waiting for you. We received an emergency call reporting that loud screams for help from a woman were heard in one of the apartments in your residence. We immediately responded to the apartment, where we found your mother with multiple bruises and cut wounds on her face and back. Given her state, it was evident that she had only tried to protect her pregnancy. We quickly transported her to the hospital. On the way, she managed to say that her husband was the one who inflicted the harm and pleaded for her child to be saved if she didn't make it. She asked us to hand the child over to you before losing consciousness.

Victoria: (I couldn't speak, the words wouldn't come out. Hearing the officer recount what happened to my mother felt like dying) Please tell me that they have caught that bastard and he's in custody.

Officer: Indeed, Miss. We located him at a nearby bar, heavily intoxicated. I highly doubt he remembers what he did. However, I don't want to lie to you; this man has no criminal record. So, at most, we will only be able to secure a three-year sentence.

(Tears filled my eyes, and hearing what the officer told me hurt even more. What an injustice! My mother and my brother fighting for their lives, and this miserable man will only get a short sentence, like a vacation.)

Officer: I understand how you feel, Miss Santiago, but this is all we can do.

Victoria: No, Officer. You have no idea what I feel. My mother and my brother are everything I have in this life, and this damn wretch will take them away from me without any consequences.

Officer: Don't lose faith, Miss Santiago. Pray to God that both of them make it through this. If you excuse me, I will wait here with you. I must know how your mother and brother come out of the operation. In some way, I must fulfill her wishes before she fainted.

(The officer and I stayed there waiting. My mother had been in surgery for five hours, and I had no updates on either of them. At that moment, the doctor came out.)

Dr. Figueroa: Good evening, family of Mrs. Victoria Fisher.

Vicky: I'm here, doctor. Please tell me they're both okay.

Dr. Figueroa: I'm sorry to say that we did everything we could for your mother. Before starting the cesarean section, she asked us to save the baby, but unfortunately, due to the cuts and cranial trauma, I don't think she will make it past the next 72 hours. She's currently in the intensive care unit.

Vicky: No, not my mother! (I cried like I never thought possible, my light, my star was fading in this world) And what about my little brother?

Dr. Figueroa: The baby, despite being premature, was born within the normal weight range, weighing 2800 grams and measuring 49 cm. However, he will remain in an incubator for several days to monitor his lungs and ensure his well-being. I will give the order for you to have a room so you can be with the baby.

Vicky: Thank you, Doctor. Can I also see my mother?

Dr. Figueroa: I will allow you to see her for only 5 minutes. Meanwhile, you can go and see the baby.

Vicky: Thank you, Doctor.

Officer: Miss, remember that your mother said that if she were to die, you would be the legal guardian of the child.

Vicky: Officer, even if she hadn't said it, I would never abandon my brother. He is all I have left!

(An nurse came out and gestured for me to meet my little brother. Seeing him so tiny and vulnerable in that incubator hurts, knowing that my mom may not survive for us. He is so tiny.)

Enfermera: Miss, you can now come this way to see your mother. I need you to put on the protective kit and you can enter.

Vicky: Okay, thank you!

October 19, 2010, 3:58 a.m.

Entering the Intensive Care Unit, I felt a chill run through my body. Seeing my mother there was something I never imagined. Dr. Figueroa was there, examining my mother.

Dr. Figueroa: Miss, your mother is awake, but she only remembers the last 5 minutes. I'll be close by in case of any eventuality.

Mom Victoria: Daughter, I'm sorry. You always warned me, but I never listened to you.

Vicky: Shhh, Mom, don't speak. You're very weak, you need to conserve your strength.

Mom Victoria: No, daughter, don't cry. It breaks my heart to see you like this. I want you to be happy and take good care of Matheo. Make sure he becomes a good man, and don't let Samuel take him. Promise me you'll take care of him!

Vicky: Mom, did you name him after my father? And please don't say that. We'll both take care of him. I promise I'll help you with him. Please don't leave us, we need you.

Mom Victoria: Yes, daughter, I want him to carry your father's name. He was a wonderful man, and my baby deserves to bear his name. Daughter, I don't have much time left, you know? I saw your father, he looks as handsome as ever, and he needs me. Both of us will watch over you from heaven.

Vicky: No, Mommy, please don't leave us.

Mom Victoria: Daughter, don't cry. I don't want to leave with the image of your sad face. Yes, please, I want to leave seeing that beautiful smile on you. You're a very strong girl, and I'll depart knowing that my children will take care of each other. I ask you to register Matheo with your name, I've already asked Dr. to ensure the child leaves the hospital as yours.

Vicky: (Even though I was broken inside, I gave my mother the best smile. I didn't want her to feel bad knowing that I am hurting) Mommy, I promise to take care of my brother. I swear on you and my father that I'll give him all the love you both gave me. Mommy, give my father a kiss and tell him I love him. And these two kisses are for you, one from my little brother and the other from me. We'll always love you, and I won't let my brother forget you. You'll be the little star in the sky that will watch over us along with my father.

Mom Victoria: Of course, my daughter. Now I can leave in peace. I will love you forever, my children.

(The world seemed to crumble beneath my feet. Seeing my mother close her beautiful eyes hurt my soul.)

Dr. Figueroa: Daughter, I'm so sorry for your loss. Don't fall apart. There's a little one who needs you to be strong, and you must stand tall for him. Before you came in, your mother asked me for something delicate. Given the circumstances, I have already entered you as if you had entered the delivery room. With this child's record, you are legally the biological mother. You won't have any problems registering him.

Vicky: Thank you, Doctor. I truly don't know how to repay you for what you just did for us.

Dr. Figueroa: Of course, daughter. You'll repay me by taking care of that little one and shaping him into a good man. Excuse me, daughter, but I will go prepare everything so your mother can be taken and given a proper burial.

(My mother left this world. She ceased being my angel on earth to become our angel in heaven. And even though I feel shattered, it's true! There's a child in the hospital who needs me to be strong, and I am all he has. While attending my mother's funeral, I realized how alone we were, my mother and I. I know very little about my parents' families, as both of them were only children and my grandparents have passed away. Here, only Doña Josefina and Don José, her husband, were present, along with the priest, the officer who always looked after us, and me. After the funeral, everyone went back to their homes, and the officer took me to the hospital. I didn't want to leave my brother alone for any longer. Now, everything would be even more challenging for me - my studies, my job, and a baby who would need me 24/7.

ONE WEEK Later...

It has already been a week since my mother passed away, my little brother is still in the hospital. I can't believe how kind and noble my child turned out to be. He has behaved very well, and in addition, he is very greedy. I feel like he's going to ruin me with all the milk.

Today we had his last appointment at the hospital with the pediatrician, who saw him in good health and decided to discharge him. During the week at the hospital, Doña Josefina and Don José helped me a lot in taking care of him. While I went to work and attended classes during the day, they took turns so that my child wouldn't feel abandoned. And at night, it was amazing how the little rascal couldn't sleep in his crib; he slept with me in bed. At first, I was terrified of the idea of crushing him or him falling off the bed, but later on, I got used to it. Now, I believe that neither of us can sleep without each other.

I decided to only buy what was necessary for the first few months, as he outgrew everything very quickly, and he had already grown several centimeters in height. He was now measuring 53 cm and weighed 3,400 grams. My Teo is a precious child, and thankfully, he resembles my mother a lot. He inherited everything from her, including her blue eyes like the sea. He is a beautiful blond baby, and I love him with all my heart. I never thought it would be possible to love someone so deeply from the moment I saw him inside that incubator, and his precious eyes looked at me before he gifted me his first smile.

Thanks to my father's help and my part-time job, I had enough money to take care of my child and ensure we didn't lack anything. Additionally, I had the best babysitters in the world. Since my baby was discharged, Doña Josefina and Don José didn't allow me to stay in my apartment anymore. They asked us to move in with them. My child is very fortunate, as both Don José and Doña Josefina adore him as if he were their own grandchild. They are alone, just like us, with no family, so the four of us keep each other company. Moreover, they help me a lot with my child so that I can finish my studies. After my mother's death, I decided to sell the apartment. I didn't want to hold onto something where my mother suffered for so long. The apartment belonged to my parents, and I was their sole heir. I made the decision to put the money into a foreign account, as advised by Don José, and I listened to him.

1 YEAR LATER...

October 11th.

Doña Josefina: Vicky, my child, hurry up! Today is your graduation ceremony, and we will be late, my daughter.

Don José: Relax, woman, she still has time. Can't you see that our girl will graduate as a Physical Therapist only once and she must look beautiful at her graduation ceremony?

Vicky: Alright, alright, I'm ready. God, I'm so nervous. Being the top-performing student, I have to stand on the podium and speak. Wow, I'm terrified.

Don José: Don't worry, my girl. You'll do great, just like everything else you've done so far.

Doña Josefina: That's right, my child. Your parents would be very proud of you. You've done so well, and you've even managed to raise Matheo Ignacio with your sacrifice and effort. Just ask this little glutton who eats more than he breathes.

(We all laugh. Indeed, it will be cheaper for me to pay for Matheo's education than to feed him.)

Vicky: Hahaha, that's true, Mom. Teo eats too much, but I'm proud of him. He is extremely well-behaved. Besides, all of this is possible because of you.

Don José: No, daughter, thanks to you, our lonely hearts have been filled with joy. Without a doubt, your parents left us a great gift.

Doña Josefina: That's right, daughter. As a graduation gift, José and I have decided to put the apartments in your name. We live off them, but if something were to happen to us, we want you to be the owner.

Vicky: No, that's not how it works. You have already given me so much. The apartments belong to you; I definitely can't accept them. We don't need them.

Don José: Listen, daughter, we won't accept a "no" as an answer. It is our decision, and it's final. We know you don't need them, but you and our grandson are all we have. Take it as a graduation and birthday gift, since you both have birthdays on the 18th. What better gift could there be?

Vicky: God, I can't handle you. Thank you, really. I adore you. My Teo has the best grandparents in the world.

(The graduation ceremony went wonderfully. I feel proud of my dream. I know that wherever my parents are, they are celebrating for me. Officially, I am now a licensed Physical Therapist. What joy! Being the youngest student and having an outstanding trajectory, I received a scholarship to pursue a specialization in Neurological Physical Therapy in Madrid. This day will definitely be remembered as one of the best in my life.)

(After the ceremony and making the necessary arrangements, we all happily returned home. Don José and Doña Josefina are delighted about my scholarship. They supported me in their own way and already made travel plans. They said they wouldn't separate from us for anything, so here we go, Madrid. After carefully considering the pros and cons, we decided to sell all the apartments. If we were leaving, we knew we would start a new life in Madrid. Besides, we all thought it would be a good opportunity for my baby to have a better future, and undoubtedly, Spain would provide that. I love my country, Venezuela, but each year the situation becomes more difficult here. So, it's better to make good decisions.)

1 WEEK Later...

October 18th, 2011

Today, we celebrated my Teo's first birthday and his baptism, as well as my 19th birthday. It was a simple celebration since my little boy, despite being very sharp, would prefer something intimate. Besides, Don José and Doña Josefina became the godparents of my little one. Tomorrow, we will visit my parents' graves. It will be one year since my mother's passing. We will bring flowers and I know that all the doors opening for me are because of them. I will miss them dearly.

1 Month Later...

After so much paperwork with the sale of the apartments, Mr. José made two trips to Madrid during the month to have everything ready there. I never imagined how cautious Mr. Cheo can be, but undoubtedly they have been that driving force in my life and in that of my little one. I have no doubt that my parents never left us alone.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the long-awaited moment has arrived to travel to Madrid.

Mr. José: Ladies, hurry up! The taxi that will take us to the airport has arrived. I have already handed over the keys to their new owners, so let's go before we miss the plane. We must arrive at Maiquetía before 2 o'clock to check in for the flight.

Mrs. Josefina: Oh, dear, I'm coming. It's not every day that one moves, and I'm going to miss this house.

Mr. José: Relax, woman. What you will miss is not the house but the memories, and we carry the best memories with us, our children.

Vicky: Hey, I'm not a child anymore... hahaha! Besides, I'm very excited that you are coming to live with us in Madrid. I don't think I could have left and left you here.

Mr. José: And did you think you could get rid of us, young lady? We would never allow it. You are our girl, and this little rascal who is already running everywhere is our godson grandson. So let's go, or the flight will leave us behind.

(We leave the apartment, filled with emotions, some sad, others joyful. Undoubtedly, a life full of challenges and surprises awaits us in Madrid. We arrive at the airport; the flight was scheduled for 4 o'clock in the afternoon, so we decided to buy some souvenirs from our beloved land and take them with us. The time came to board the plane.)

They gave all the flight instructions. Guatemalan mom was a bit nervous; it was the first time she embarked on such a long journey by plane. But Mr. José loves her so much that during the trip, he never stopped embracing her and providing reassurance. Undoubtedly, they are a great example of unconditional love, and I ask God and my parents to cross paths with a man who loves us with the same intensity that they love each other.

Mr. José and Mrs. Josefina