Those last days. No way of wrapping it pretty or pretending otherwise Rafa was dying. Now it is my turn to take up the mantle of being man of the house. Rafa had now become a bigger priority than he already was. With ma going to church every day she leaves me to do the dirty work. Rafa was not as hard to look after, all he does is just  covers the arm chair with his body, while watching various shows on the television. All I have to do is comfort Rafa and cook food for him. Sometimes for my ma it seemed like she was the one dying. The doctors always determine that Rafa may have a few days, weeks or even months, this was a constant reminder of whats right round the corner closing in day by day.

Those last days. No way of wrapping it pretty or pretending other wise: Rafa was dead. It guess that my mom did not get any response from upstairs. The door would open with a light gentle breeze with echo of footsteps approaching. The doors within the house opened and closed. There was one room which would stay shut this was Rafa’s room. The time dinner came Ma cooked Rafa’s favourite deliquesce however Rafa was not with us. There is a thought just circling in my head that i could’ve done more for Rafa and made his life a little easier.

There was a sudden knock at the door which kept going on and on. I could hear a faint sound of a female voice. We wanted some peace, however this lady seemed adamant to come in. You would never believe who rocked up to our door. Pura. She had nerve didn’t she.

Pura walked in throwing her coat on the sofa waiting for ma. Ma gave me the look, so I knew to head straight to my room. Through the door I could hear faint shouting and distant chatter. I caught some sentences like, “you didn’t even ask about Rafa” said Ma, yet Pura kept on pleading Ma to lend her some money for her and her son, my nephew.

The time came for me to step in and boy was I angry. The silence was so loud and the tension grew and grew as did the anger inside me. I let it out there and then but no words came out. Pura’s pocket started to jingle and she placed a set of keys and ran out. She gave the car back didn’t she? Ma replied go see for yourself. I ran towards the window looking down at a part of my brother.