Go to the whores, Maria. You don’t have to be one, but you need them.

Picture Jesus Helguera Maria changed the thread and worked on Juana’s neck. She got some water and a rag and wiped the dried blood from her neck and face and arms. She got her a new dress and handed it over. Juana stripped down and threw her bloody outfit on the fire and, as it burned, the whole room lit up and got very warm. “Are you in heaven, Juana?”
“I guess so.” Juana looked herself over and then looked around the room. She found Maria’s old mirror, the one the old woman had given her. She looked into it to survey the work Maria had done on her neck and was satisfied. She turned the mirror over to Maria and regarded Maria’s reflection as they both gazed into it. “This is the only one you can rely on, Maria. Remember that.”
“Did the man who attacked us do this to you?”
“I don’t know.”
Juana stood up and brushed the back of her dress off. “Thanks, Maria. Your sewing looks good.” She looked as if she was preparing to go somewhere and Maria didn’t want her to leave. She suddenly thought of a question.
“What’s it like?”
“Oh, it didn’t hurt. I just …, just died.”
“No, no. What’s heaven like?”
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s nice. I don’t know, it’s more of a feeling, not like the world. I haven’t seen any people and I’m not tired or hungry. Just nice.”
“You’ve not seen Jesus then?”
Juana laughed out loud, as if it was a silly question. “Oh, no. None of that.” She began to drift away, away from the firelight and then stopped. “You can’t stay here, Maria. You can’t be alone. You’ll go mad.”
Maria looked at her. She felt desperate to say something, but she was becoming very sleepy and she couldn’t think of anything to say. She finally came up with some words. “Where will I go?”
“Go to the whores, Maria. You don’t have to be one, but you need them. You need them.” Then she was gone. Maria's Trail
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Published on January 22, 2013 15:23
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