The principal cleared his throat.
“He made a comment about her mother.”
Ricardo’s jaw tightened.
“What comment?”
Mariana stood.
“He said Mom died because she was weak.”
Ricardo closed his eyes.
The room became very quiet.
“I hit him.”
“I know.”
“I’d do it again.”
Ricardo looked at his daughter.
He wanted to punish her.
He wanted to tell her violence was wrong.
But he also understood why she had exploded.
On the drive home, neither spoke.
When they arrived, Luía was waiting in the kitchen.
She took one look at Mariana.
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” Mariana said.
Luía nodded.
“Okay.”
Mariana stopped.
“What?”
“I said okay.”
“You don’t want to know?”
“I already know.”
“How?”
“Your face.”
Mariana stared at her.
Then she suddenly burst into tears.
It wasn’t quiet crying.
It was the kind of crying that came from somewhere deep.
Luía walked toward her.
Mariana stepped back.
