Her father passed when she was young, just a year before her mother started working for the Ortega family. Being so little, she didn't understand why mama was crying so much and holding onto pictures of papa. Her own grandmother had to break the news, her mother too far gone in grief to form the words. "Come here sweet child." Her grandmother called her, tiny feet pitter pattering across the cement floor. Her grandmother picked her up and settled Allie into her lap, a hand smoothing down her hair gently. "Alessandra, you know your papa loves you very much right?" Her grandmother asked, soft eyes watching her. Allie nodded with a smile. "Tu papá tuvo un accidente, dulce niña." Allie frowned and tilted her head questioningly. "Your papa, he was a very strong man. He tried to come back home but got lost."
"But he'll come back right?" she asked, her small voice paining her grandmother. Her grandmother frowned gently before shaking her head no, making Allie all the more worried. "But he has to!" her voice raising. "He promised to take me to the plaza!" her voice filled with her hurt, thinking about her father breaking his promise. Her mama's wails echoed off the walls of the small house after that, tears of her own beginning to fall as her grandmother held her tightly. It wasn't until she grew older she learned what happened and how it changed her mother. She doesn't remember much about how her parents were before his passing, but her mama always talked about how much of a good man he was, the things he did for them and the love they had was true.
The day had started out so good. Her momma had only enough strength to eat something and to walk around the garden with Senora Ortega, telling stories of their younger years. Being teenagers now, the two had more freedom than before, Enrique's mother letting them go out further past the house. Allie and Enrique were running into the garden from the field behind the house when she collapsed.
"Momma!" Allier yelled as she rushed to her side. "Momma? What's happening?" She asked panicked as his mom rushed Enrique to go get the doctors and his father. With their help, they were able to take her momma up to her room and get her k to bed. Allie and Enrique were forced to stand outside the room while his parents were inside with the doctors. She remembered time passing so slowly in that moment. Her heart beating wildly while Enrique held her hand for support. When the door opened, Allie pushed past everyone to be at her mommas side. Her hand was cold when she grabbed it and her momma didn't react to her like normal. "Why is she so cold?" Allie asked, her heart skipping a beat as a pit started to open in her stomach. "and why isn't she moving?!" Tears welted in her eyes as she looked back at door to find everyone with somber looks on their faces. Allie shook her head viciously as the word no kept falling from her lips.
It wasn't until Enrique pushed past the crowd but stopped when he took in the scene in front of him. Allie looked back at him before the dam holding her tears broke and a heart shattering scream escaped her. Enrique was by her side in seconds, catching her as she crumpled to the ground. Enrique held her in his arms as she cried, as if reacting to her emotion, the weather outside changed and one of the worse thunderstorms they had all year came in. The doctors came in and removed her mommas body while Enrique's father comforted his mother. Allie stared and cried at the empty bed for what felt like forever before Enrique convinced her to try and eat something. To walk around and get out of the room. What little she did eat, she threw back up only minutes later. It wasn't until later that night that they ended up in the attic. The large circle window looked out into the garden but was hazy from the pouring rain. She stared blankly out of it, her knees brought up to her chest while they sat in silence. This went on for a while before she moved closer and Enrique pulled her into his arms again, hugging her tightly as she sat in his lap. The position allowed her to bury her head into the nook of his neck and shoulder, her body shaking as she quietly cried. It was soon after that her breathing had started to even out and for the first time, she fell asleep in his arms.
Dress shopping with Elena
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they walked together making small talk on their way to the dress shop. They were greeted as they walked in, the two branching out to examine more dresses. After a while, Elena came to Allie with a defeated look on her face. The look pained her. Her and Enrique had met Elena when she at her lowest and they helped her get out of it but seeing her look so dejected broke her heart.
"Don't give me that look El! We're going to find you a -" Allie stopped mid sentence as a dress caught her eyes. "Oh my god!" She exclaimed as she pulled out a beautiful blue dress. "Elena this would gorgeous on you! You have to try it on!" Allie held the dress up to Elena's body and if heart eyes were a literal thing, her eyes would be the biggest hearts in the world. Elena looked at the dress adoringly, her hand coming out to touch the fabric. "It is really pretty.. but I don't know." Elena told her unsure. Allie rolled her eyes and also pulled a pink dress off the rack. "I'll try one on if you do." Allie bargained which seemed to win Elena over. Allie smiled brightly as she tugged her towards the dressing room.
