Lucia, your room has been cancelled. Now, do not start acting all dramatic because you are not ruining our night tonight!
While my mother said it very quietly, the cruel smile on her face made my skin feel cold.
We were standing in the lobby of a luxury Cancún hotel where even the bottled water was expensive. I had just arrived from Mexico City, exhausted, dragging my carry-on suitcase behind me, and wearing a simple dress that I bought on sale for my sister Sofía’s engagement dinner.
My family has been asking me for money for months.
To pay for the event hall deposit.
Their tickets to fly.
The private oceanfront dinner.
You don’t have children, Lucia; thus, you can help.
In total, I transferred almost 100,000 pesos. I am not rich! I am a teacher in an elementary school and teach all day, then tutor at night, and count my pesos until paycheck.
I went because of Grandma Elena.
When she was passing away, she held my hand and said, “My dear, go on this trip. Not for them, but so that your eyes will be opened!”
At that time, I didn’t understand.
Now I do, when the receptionist checked my ID and looked at me like a pity case.
“Miss Lucia Ramirez, your reservation was cancelled yesterday. The group’s master account has cancelled your reservation.”
My stomach dropped.
“Cancelled by whom?”
Behind me, Sofía was giggling while holding on to her fiancé, Mauricio.