A Desperate Afternoon
The late afternoon sun painted the tall buildings of the financial district in golden tones when Luciana Mendoza finally broke down.
At twenty-four, eight months pregnant, and with no roof over her head, she sat beneath a leafy tree, clutching her round belly as silent tears slid down her cheeks.
Her floral dress was wrinkled from hours of wandering the streets, her suitcase stuffed with clothes that no longer fit.
In her pocket, only seven dollars remained. She whispered softly to her unborn child:
“Don’t worry, my love. Mommy will figure something out.”
But even as she said it, doubt lingered in her heart.
That morning, her ex-partner Diego had followed through on his cruel words. He canceled the lease, put her name on the eviction order, and by mid-morning she was standing on the street with nothing but her suitcase.
