Hermosa

"Gabriella."

It was my Papa's voice. Then I heard a click. The door creaked and soon a thud was heard, "uh- hermosa, I think you double locked the door?"

I stayed still for a moment, processing everything, I was still holding on to Tigre by the collar, he was still growling, he's never done this before.

"Uh- yeah, hold on Papa. Tigre is being weird!" I yelled over the loud growl.

I guided Tigre to my room and shut the door, his growling never stopped. I walked back to the front door now fully closed, I peek through the peephole through the help of my step stool. Yup, that's my Papa.

I step down and move my stool and unlock the latch. I opened the door and there stood Papa, still tall as ever, with 3 groceries bags he said he would get. "Hey Mija, did you miss me?" He smiled.

I felt my face flush, and my eyes got teary eyed, and soon enough the tears started flowing down my face. My eye shut closed and I grabbed the hem of my shirt

"Uh- ¿Que paso mi amor? ¿Pasó algo aterrador?"

"I didn't know where you were! I thought you left just like mother!" I sobbed out, feeling my face get redder and more heated through each sob. I heard bags meeting the title floor and soon arms had wrapped around me, taking me into a hug.

"Oh, lo siento, Gabby, no fue mi intención asustarte." He started to cradle me, I latched my arms around his neck and held tight. " Lo lamento." He said.

He placed me on the couch and kneeled in front of me; rubbing my tears away as they only continued to roll down, "Oh Gabby, I'm sorry. Papa just got worried cause you didn't answer fast enough." He gripped my hand and squeezed it; my Papa looked sad too.

"Who knocks like that! I thought I was gonna get kidnapped and never see you or Tigre again! Why did you knock like that!" I sobbed out leaning up to grab my Papa again latching my arms around his neck, he accepted fully. I hugged him tight.

"I'm sorry Mija." He squeezed me tight. I heard him sigh as his grip loosened, "I'm sorry hermosa, but- can you please let go?"

I gripped his hair hard, "ow! Gabby! That hurts! Let go- Gabe- that- Ow!"

"I don't wanna let go! Papa please! I don't wanna be alone! Papa!" I gripped his hair harder and his shirt, I latched my legs on his torso; I wouldn't budge.

"I understand mi vida, but- but Papa has to put up groceries. So please let go!" Papa went to grab my hands to ease my grip but that didn't work, I wanted to hold on longer.

"No!"

"Gabby! Let go!"

"No!"

"Gabby! I'm going to go bald- Gabe!" Papa gripped my hand harder, pressing my knuckle so that I would let loose, but that wouldn't work.

"I don't care! Just don't leave me again!" I grip his hair harder and strengthen my hold on his torso as I felt his hand try to unlock my ankles from each other from behind his back. Papa had stood up at one point that I didn't notice; when did he do that?

"Gabriella!" He shouted, he was angry. I've seen my Papa angry many times. Once I had left my cleats at home before going on a two hour road trip for a soccer game, I got yelled at badly that day. Another time was when I had started a food fight at school, it was a big mistake as my Papa had to help me, he was mad he had to clean. But- but he's never yelled at me with such anger and annoyance. Papa never screamed my name either when he was upset with me.

I was startled, I jumped and my limbs that latched onto my father had loosen as I fell to the floor; my bum hitting the hard tile. I scurry back as I hear Tigre bark more, but more violent than earlier, he was also scratching at the bedroom door. I could hear his claws rapidly scratch the doors, he was so desperate.

My brown eyes had met his, but his were darker. It was frightening, his tall stature didn't make it better, it was intimidating. It was scary. His eyes glowed. He made a sudden move, "Mija?"
I scurry back further as he crouchs my way. I can tell Papa saw how scared I was; this isn't the first time an adult scared me.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I- I'm sorry for yelling and dropping you. I uh- on the way home- some guy nearly mugged me. So that's why I was frustrated. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

I stay still, holding my breath. Time felt slow as I saw my Papa look at me with sympathy, but it feels different. I held my breath and hiccup, trying to calm myself down, it was working but not to a great extent.

"Hermosa?" My father reached his hand out to me, his left hand, there stayed the bandage he had on, but- but it didn't look right like it did earlier. It was tight around his wrist and knuckles, this looked loose. I analyzed it, looking at it.

"Gabby, Qué ocurre?"

He reached for my last tear and whipped it away, "let's go to bed, you had a long day." Papa scooped me up, what we called princess style, and took me to my room.

As my Papa set me down, Tigre low growls were heard, "Wait- Tigre was being weird earlier."

"It's fine." Papa's hand had already touched my doorknob and twisted it open; the door had creaked open… It was quiet.

Tigre muzzle had rammed through the crack door and growled, baring his fangs. I saw slobber coming off him, spilling from his mouth and dripping as it went further down.

Papa opened the door all the way, as I panicked beside him. Why would he do that knowing a pitbull is growling so ferociously? "Papa…?" I said, but he didn't reply, he stayed focused on Tigre.

I stood behind Papa, holding onto his leg for dear life not wanting to face my own dog, my best friend, being cruel.

Papa stood tall, papa was massive, he was muscular, standing at 6'9 or something like that. He was just tall. Papa overshadowed anything that was smaller than him, and Tigre was smaller than him.

Tigre whimpered as my Papa loomed over him, he was terrified; his growling stopped completely and turned to whimpers. He ran, his feet padding against the wooden floor to the other side of my bed. It was sad to see Tigre like this, he was never such a scaredy cat, he wasn't a wimp. Papa and I taught him to be strong.

Papa looked at me and smiled, "let's get you to bed." He put his hand behind my back and guided me in. I watched as Tigre scurried under my bed, silent whimpers being heard. Papa picked me up and settled me into bed, he grabbed the covers and draped them over me, I sat up as he did so; he grabbed my pillows and fluffed out each one. He did all of this with a smile.

It wasn't a creepy smile, it was warm but it felt rehearsed. He was calm and collected like usual, but he didn't question why Tigre was growling or whimpering; maybe Papa's night was bad because of the mugger. Or maybe he's just tired. Yeah, that has to be it.

"Papa, was your night really that bad? Are you tired Papa?" I asked, looking at my Papa. He looked at me and gave a soft smile, "yeah, but at least I'm at home with you, safe and sound with my hermosa."

Papa guided me to lay down and pulled the blanket over me, tucking me and kissing my forehead. "Buenas noches mi hermosa."

"Good night papa, sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams."

……….

What a weird dream. I thought as I woke up looking at Tigre on top of my legs, sadly licking his paws. He was anxious, or bored. "Tigre, Tigre c'mere." I pat by my leg, he looks up meeting my gaze, he huffs a sigh.

I thought of Papa as I laid down longer, as Tigre had scooted closer to me, I weaved out my arm so he could use it as a head rest, he did. We laid side by side; Tigre went back to sleep but I still thought of Papa. That was a dream, right?

"Where's my diary?" I need to jot all of this down. All of it. I scramble up, taking my arm away from Tigre as he nudged me with his back paws with annoyance. He's so grumpy for his age; he's 5 years old and already annoyed with life.

I left it in the living room, the sala. I have to be quiet, I don't want to wake up Papa. Papa's an insomniac or something like that, he basically sucked at the easiest thing, sleeping. That's why I usually let him sleep in; he needs to get his rest as much as possible.

I leaped out of my bed and Tigre watched me, watching my every move. I go to my drawer, I grab sweat pants and a baggy shirt, "always do your best," in big white words. I hated this shirt. Mother got it for me, it was stupid.

After getting dressed I reached for the door knob, and Tigre got up, jumping off my bed with a huff. "Why do you act so old when you're not? Mi viejito." I grab his face and squish him around and he just takes it. "Alright, let's go." I open the door and usually when Tigre is with me he's the first one to leave, but not this time, he stayed behind me as I walked ahead.

As I got closer to the living room I heard Papa humming to the song Cielito Lindo; he said it's our song.

He's in the kitchen and humming, he never makes breakfast or hums! Well sometimes, but most of the time it's chorizo and eggs, but he's making- he's making omelets? And humming. Weird.

I see his head turn.

I know I didn't make a sound, the floor broads don't creak, they don't and the tiles aren't empty underneath, they're solid. So why did Papa look my way.

"Good morning Mija."

"Morning, Papa."

"Did I wake you?" He smiled as he continued to cook. "Uh-no, I woke up just a minute ago."

Papa stayed focused on the food as he hummed to my reply; I looked back to the living room and saw my diary on the coffee table. I smiled and was about to grab it, but Papa stopped me.

"Foods ready, let's eat." I turn to him and see him place the food down, three plates. Two on the table and one on the floor by my chair for Tigre.

Tigre ate human food, cheaper and faster. "Coming." I glance at my diary one more time, and go sit at the kitchen table. I look at the omelets made, stuffed with cheese and bacon, it looks good. I looked at the rest of the table, I had a banana licuado for a drink and Papa had coffee.

"Papa, about last night." Papa was about to dig in and I disturbed his meal.

"What happened last night?" Huh? What does he mean by that? He was there. He totally was. "Uh-last night, you um- freaked me out a bit, you know?"

I look at Papa, and his eyebrow is cocked up, looking at me confused about what I said. "What did I do last night?"

"Huh? You came home late last night, and you pounded on the door like a maniac, and Tigre was growling at you. You remember right?" I know I had a nervous smile, I know it showed.

"Clearly I don't know what you're talking about. I came home late, yes, but I had my keys, and I found you on the couch sleeping. So I took you to bed."

But I double locked it, the doorknob locked and the hatch lock. I locked both. I know I did, he even said it! Maybe it was just a dream. Tigre was still acted normal, as I looked down at him as he ate his plate.

"Oh."

"Are you ok hermosa? Has dormido suficiente?"

"Yeah, maybe it was just a dream."

Papa noded clearly not wanting to go further into my dream. We began to eat and talk about things. He looked over at the family photo, the only one that had us as a complete family. My mother with long black hair and thick eyebrows, and brown skin; Papa said we looked alike, but I think I look more like Papa. "Hermosa, would you like to visit your mama later this week?"

Mama? When have I ever referred to her as mama? When I did talk to her she would want me to call her ma'am or mother; I chose mother. "Uh- sure."

"Good, it's been awhile since we've seen her." He smiled, looking at the photo.

Yeah, like a whole year, but that went unsaid.