Stranger

Priscilla and Fernando were engaged to be married. The courtship lasted three years. One day Fernando informed Priscilla the engagement was over and provided no reason or explanation. Priscilla did not comprehend why the commitment ended. Days later while scrolling on social media, Priscilla came across a post of Fernando with his new girlfriend and nuptials announced. The turmoil Priscilla felt was unbearable. The grief caused her intestine to rupture, sending her to the hospital. She felt humiliated, defeated, and everyone knew. Fernando married a well-heeled American woman. Priscilla found solace in her faith, and it is what helped her prevail. She was able to flourish and witness abundance in countless ways.

In Pursuit of a Green Card

Camila is the epitome of a Colombian bombshell. When she walks her hips glide in unison, every man, woman, child take notice although strikingly beautiful, she is quite shy. Like many Camila entered the country legally and overstayed her visa. She managed to secure a job as a waitress in a Spanish restaurant without the command of the English language, default looks, minor cosmetic enhancements, she has a steady stream of tips. She embodies what many men desire gorgeous and helpless, a show stopper. Manolo was her customer, an established business owner with an appetite for extremely young and needy women. Camila, beautiful and fifteen years younger, limited schooling, and super needy is what men like Manolo desire. Fast forward several weeks, Camila moves in, quits her job, making a mad dash into motherhood. The first attempt ends in miscarriage, two months later deal is sealed. Pregnant with a baby girl. As to be anticipated, Camila puts on weight, Manolo quickly loses interest and is adamant about not touching her given he has someone else far more nimble vying for his attention. During the pregnancy not once did Camila have sex, unlike Manolo. Since Camila was pregnant, in the country illegally Manolo decided to marry her to secure her immigration status. While Camilla was in-love with Manolo, he grew increasingly bored by her affections. Camila lived the life every girl thought she wanted, upscale neighborhood, every comfort provided, marriage, looks, a daughter, secured green card although the love and affection of her husband fleeting. Once Paola was born, Manolo refused Camila alledging fear of another pregnancy. Upon Paola’s second birthday, Manolo musters up the courage to tell Camilla he wants a break from the relationship. Although Camila doubted Manolo’s love, she needed him to confirm his position as though his actions did not scream loud enough. Manolo felt he upheld his responsibility as a provider, husband, father, although his love was never on the table.

Laborinto de mi Vida

On a cold winter nite, December 21st, 1957, Genova arrived in New York City from La Republica Dominicana. Thirty-two years old and with just enough money to rent a furnished room in the upper west side. In the ’60s the upper west side was a far cry from what it is today. No command of the English language, “una mano atras y otra alante” as said in Spanish, “not a pot to pee in.” What Genova lacked in financial resources, she overcompensated with gumption. Getting acclimated to American culture was quite jarring coming from a culture in which everyone knows their neighbors, and customarily treated with warmth, dignity, and seen. Genova was consumed by upward mobility. The first task was securing the resources to purchase a house back home, so all six of her children can once again live together under one roof. Within three years the mission was accomplished. Although her children were keenly aware of their mothers’ sacrifices, being apart weighed heavily on them. Having graduated from the third grade, Genova was relegated to working in factories as a seamstress, potato peeler, kitchen of restaurants to name a few. With savings from multiple jobs, she moved into a five-bedroom apartment in Sugar Hill, Harlem. She rented the bedrooms to other newly arrived immigrants, which paid her rent and provided surplus. Genova offered cooking services to the boarders for an additional fee. Aside from boarders, cooking services, she provided baby-sitting services as well. As a child, she would tell adults premonitions despite her pious mother frowning on this gift. While in Harlem far away from her mother’s disapproval, she visited a local botanica and purchased a deck of tarot cards and taught herself how to read the cards. She has always been intrinsically connected to her sixth sense. Once she started providing tarot services business soared. People learned of her through word of mouth. Walking into her living room closely resembled a waiting room in a doctor’s office. Well-heeled individuals, from all walks of life, ranging from a journalist, wife of a physician, big-time drug dealers, and countless others as repeat customers. Genova even had customers who spoke no Spanish and had friends translate readings, as customers kept notes in a journal. She had customers calling from as far as Peru for readings. Genova also prepared Banos’ when clients required spiritual cleansing. Banos’ consisted of various hojas among other ingredients. Banos’ ranged in price between $100 and $200, the business was fruitful. Working incessantly, numerous side hustles, living below her means, she managed to purchase additional homes in La Republic Dominicana, as rental properties. Single handed securing visas and permanent residency for all six of her children to join her in America.

Love via a Green Card..

Monica and Oko met on an online dating website. Oko seemed quiet, reserved, and pleasant, not Monica’s usual type. They made arrangements to meet up. Throughout the courtship, Monica was treated well. As things got serious in the relationship, finances were discussed and Monica learns of Oko’s migratory status in the country. Monica is established, unlike Oko, working under the table and living in the country illegally although a very hard worker. Monica agrees to marry Oko and hires an attorney to help resolve his immigration status. Within 90 days of being married Oko has temporary working papers. By all standards, the marriage was successful. Oko obtains a college degree in record time and quickly works his way up the corporate ladder. All financial responsibilities within the household were handled by Oko. Oko ensured Monica was provided for. By all accounts, Monica was happy, she kept it sexy while adhering to all her wifely duties. On the very day, Oko received his permanent green card, which was five years into the marriage, everything shifted. Oko would now pick and choose which bills he was going to pay. Going out to dinner, as well as outings now became a chore and deemed frivolous, by Oko. He would not come home for days and when he returned the indifference was palpable. The nuances of the marriage dissipated. Initially, Monica felt she was the reason everything changed although could not quite understand why. Months went by before Monica confronted Oko about the break within the marriage. Oko’s instinctive reply, I did not marry you for a green card. That’s when Monica realized it was all a labyrinth. She was solely Oko’s come up. She paved the way for his upward mobility. Monica understood why someone would go to such great lengths however had there been any transparency she would have happily agreed to marry for monetary compensation instead of heartache.