Read En Las Olas :: 060180 | Tapas Community

Every day I wander around Riverside trying to find her. Even if many Cubans like me are here, it is hard to find information about the exodus because of the language barrier. It was the same when we arrived at the frontier. When the ship docked, the first thing I could see was the barbed wires, enabling us to go farther. What a pleasant first impression of this grey city! Men followed us all with more guns and bulletproof vests than I have ever seen in my life. They forced us to sign papers in a language we do not speak. They search and disinfect us like animals, trying to find any excuse to prohibit us from passing. Then, before I could even realize it, these men took my father’s arm, separating him from us. We didn’t even have time to tell him our last words. Later, still scared, they put us in temporary camps with blankets and mattresses out of sight. Some people shared them, some had to sleep on the ground. I miss Cuba: the colours, the music, my friends, the celestial skies. Here the air is heavy and we can’t even see the stars at night. The only sounds are the cries and horns of cars; metallic sounds, not a bird can be heard. As I whimper, mama falls asleep in my arms. She tells me quietly that papa will come back.

We stayed in that place for almost a month, trying to understand if the freedom was even real; but the reality here is harsher than we could have thought. My father finally came back to us before we got on a bus towards Miami. There my mother went from writing stories to cleaning floors. My father continues to search for more jobs that could bring enough food home. Schools won’t accept me, I guess I will have to help my mother, but my goal to find Caridad still hasn't been reached. As I seek for her, people scream “Go back to where you came from!”, “Speak English!” I wish I could, we just didn’t have a choice. Though they continue to scream aggressively, I can’t help but appreciate that they too were once immigrants to this country. One thing that I learned from mama is that ignoring them was the best thing to do. Better make them believe you don’t understand what they are saying -increasing their whole mighty American ego- than standing up for yourself and probably getting beaten up for being a “savage”. So I continue, day after day, asking everyone I could if they have seen Caridad García, hoping she was able to pass the border. Giorno after day I ask but the answer is always negative. I miss her so much. I haven't heard from Caridad for a month and a half now.

“ ¡Cariño! ¡Ven a ver!” I hear mi mama say from downstairs. I don't want to move from my bed, yesterday I spent the whole night working for the Carrols doing their garden and cleaning their house. Soon enough, I hear laughs coming from downstairs. At first, I ignore them, but my heart skips a beat when I recognize a familiar voice. I ultimately realize that this may be the day I’ve been waiting for. I rush down the stairs trying to not fall ‘til I finally reach the living room. There I perceive my parents hugging people that I thought I would never see again. I stay there in shock, tears of extreme happiness running down my cheeks, I still can’t comprehend the scenery in front of me. Then, I feel someone hugging me tightly, and without looking at their face I recognize who they are.