Cry for Help. Approach

Wednesday arrived. Emily had realized that, since the incident with Pablito, her situation had returned to normal: her classmates begin to ignored her again, the mocking had also returned, and she was left totally alone during classes. She sighed sadly; Naomy was right. Furthermore, she was beginning to feel lonely. Since the fight on Sunday, Lucía and Karla were no longer speaking to her.

Finally, the history exam had arrived. She concentrated on that exam and managed to answer most of the questions. There where 15 questions, all from Mexico civilizations. She remembred, she smiled while she answered. That day she had fun and really enjoyed studing. 

At the middle of he exam she felt sad. Why she fight wih her friends. Why is for her so difficult to be accepted and fit in? She saw Alisha. She was wating her time looking at the blackboard. She wasn't answering anyhing. Héctor was behind her. he was cheating and the professor wasn't noticing.

She has to concentrate. he exam was difficult. "In which state do zapotecs lived?"  she read. a) Oaxaca b) Morelos c) Tlaxcala d) Jalisco. She remembered, she answered. Maybe studyng with friends wasn't that bad. Emily decided to talk to hem again.

When she finally finihed she felt relieved. She believed she was going to pass with an excellent grade. She imagined her mother praising her and her grandmother turning to look at her. In her extreme dreams she was in a restaurant, having dinner with her mom and grnadmother having a good day, chatting about vacations.

Upon going out for recess, she ran into Naomy. Both went to find their spot to eat lunch. Both felt a certain loneliness since Lucía and Karla weren't there. Since last Monday, their two friends had not joined them.

"Maybe we should talk to them again," Emily whispered while looking at her food.
"It won't be hard... Look!" Naomy pointed. Lucía was arriving. She looked like a sad puppy.

"Can I... sit with you?" Lucía asked in a nervous voice.

Both smiled and invited her to join. Lucía smiled and sat down. It was obvious she missed her friends and felt good being by their side again. Even at home, they had noticed that change. Norma, Lucías mother was worried. She was getting distracted from her classes and studies. He advised her  daughter not to let a fight distance her from her friends.

The three began to talk about trivialities. One of those topics, according to what they heard, was what had happened with Dita last Monday. Lucía, out of curiosity, brought up the subject of Candice again. Her two friends told her what they had seen.

"I saw that spectre at home," she whispered with some fear. "I thought it was because of exhaustion. But..."

Lucía stopped to observe her surroundings. She wanted only her friends to hear her. She felt a bit embarrassed believing in what she was seeing.

"We did the ritual," she continued. "What I don't understand is why it worked this time."

"I remember my brother brought a strange magazine," Naomy explained. Lucía and Emily remembered it. "Do you still have it at your house, Emily?"

"I’d have to look for it," Emily explained with some doubt. She didn't remember taking that magazine home. "But I’ll try."

Lucía commented that she could approach Dita. She suspected that her classmate liked to read and study. She had seen her reading in secret.

"I can ask her for help with chemistry," Lucía commented. "I'll try to get close and ask for help."

The friends agreed on it. With all the courage she could collect and before recess ended, Lucía approached Dita. She was staying apart from her own group of friends. She had a vacant stare, and her pale skin and cracked lips were noticeable. Lucía felt some pity for Dita. She looked ill. She focused on her goal.

"Dita..." Lucía said in a thin voice that was barely heard. She tried again. "Dita, could you help me?"

Not only did Dita turn to look. Her friends also turned and mocked her. The "sweet little first-grade girl" surely wanted help improving her appearance. Lucía did not let herself be intimidated.

"I have my chemistry exam tomorrow. Do you think you can help me?"

Dita's friends shouted "aww" in unison. The little girl wants help from the goddess of beauty, and that was something to admire. Feeling a bit of empathy for Lucía, Dita agreed. She told her she had that very afternoon free. She gave her her address and the time. Naomy was surprised by how easily Dita agreed to the proposal.

"She’s sick," Lucía commented worriedly. "Could it be that her future could be sooner.”

"How so?" Emily asked, confused.

"It’s obvious she hasn't eaten," Lucía explained. "It’s also that she isn't sleeping well. And if the rumors are true, that fainting she had last Monday..."

Emily looked at her mirror and observed her reflection. Nothing. Candice wasn't there, but at least things were moving. She thought that maybe the future was about to change.

After school, Anna welcomed Lucía into her home. The furniture—white, and expensive-looking,—was there almost like decoration, but it was obvious no one ever sat there. The flowers were fake, but placed there for appearances. Lucía felt bad about that home. here where no photos and the place lloks lika a place of catalogue or a magazine that shows only for sell something. 

She recognized the television. It was the same one her father talked about it too much—a device he wanted to buy for the next World Cup. Because of her surprise at seeing the house, Lucía barely heard Anna's criticisms of her appearance.

"I find it incredible that you want Dita to help you," Anna commented while leading the girls to Dita's room. "She is very good at the subject, you know?"

Lucía smiled. Anna, after giving them some recommendations, left them alone in Dita's room. She explained to Lucía that her mother believed she was going to help her with makeup.

"Mom thinks I’m going to improve your image," Dita whispered.

Meanwhile, Lucía was surprised that she could even stand and talk. But her gait was somewhat irregular. For some reason, that attitude was worrying her.

"Are you okay, Dita?" Lucía asked honestly.

"Yes... perfect... ly," Dita answered. But she shook her head, emphasizing the gesture over her words. "Help me..." The gaze of Dita was about a person that was terrified about something. Lucía didn't know what, but it was clearly a nightmare that she was having.

Dita let herself fall onto the bed and began to cry. She was trembling with fear; it was visible in her hands. She felt dizzy and was sweating. She didn't scream, but she whispered that she didn't want to fail, that she didn't want to flunk. But she didn't want to quit either.

With some fear and not knowing what to do, Lucía tried to help Dita regain her composure. She felt the bones of her shoulders. She was terrified by her condition. She shook Dita to get her to calm down, and she succeeded. At no point did Anna go to see what was happening.

"I... I’m sorry," Dita apologized, still trembling but now calm. "Everything is... no... forgive me. Why did you come?"

"To help you," Lucía said honestly.

Dita looked at her classmate with confusion. She didn't remember asking for help. But she didn't deny that she needed it either. She trusted her; she felt she had to.

"I'm hungry," Dita whispered to Lucía. "Also..."

Dita took off her sweater, revealing some sores that were recent. Lucía was terrified. Dita confessed that her boyfriend had become more violent, and she was afraid because he hinted at things she didn't like. Dita mention that her mother was the one involved in all of this, but when she wanted to say more, she held back. She changed the subject.

"Let... let me help you with your homework... Chemistry, you said?" Dita whispered. Lucía didn't know what to answer.

But she went along with the subject of the exam help so as not to pressure her classmate. Lucía realized that Dita liked to study, help, and give advice. She also noticed that Dita would space out, clutching her stomach as if it hurt.

At the end of the day, when Lucía was packing her books and notebooks, Dita saw the Victor Hugo book in her backpack.

"Are you reading the story of Jean Valjean?" Dita said with excitement, she smiled. Lucía nodded. "I cried so much when Fantine... hehe. Poor Cosette had a difficult childhood. Just like me..."

The last sentence was said in a whisper. If Dita was comparing herself to Cosette, then she will be Jean Valjean. She wanted to help her. Not because a mirror says, because she don't shwe would be feel guilty forever.

Upon arriving home, Lucía spoke with Naomy and Emily. She told them what she had managed to find out. She said Dita wanted help; she saw her sores and how she began to lose control, how she trembled and how she had to calm her down. Lucía asked if they could get an adult involved.

"Impossible!" Emily said. "You know my mom is working all day and my silly grandmother just watches TV."

"I'll try to get the help," was what Lucía said. "My mom is a psychologist and she can help.”