Choosing To Survive

By Susan J.

I arrived in Havana not knowing a soul. I checked into a hotel and registered; my luggage and I were taken to the room. Once inside the room I tipped the bellman and he left. I walked over to the double glass doors, which led to the balcony; I opened them and stepped on to the balcony. I looked at the street below and saw the people milling about carrying on with their lives. I saw some children running down the street playing and squealing with delight. As I watched them I felt a tear run down my left cheek, I wiped it away as I walked back into the room. As evening came I decided that I would go downstairs to the dining room for dinner. I got dressed and headed to the dining room. I arrived and was seated in a booth. The waiter came over to the table.

"Good evening Senorita," the waiter said.

"Good evening."

"Would you like a glass of sherry to start with?"

"That would be lovely."

"I will be right back. I shall leave the menu for you to look at."

"Thank you."

The waiter handed the menu to me and left. I looked at it, noticing all the wonderful dishes the hotel had to offer. The waiter returned a few minutes later and set the glass of sherry before me.

"Have you decided what you would like for dinner Senorita?" he asked.

"There are so many wonderful things to decided on, what would you suggest?"

Before the waiter had the opportunity to answer a voice came from behind him.

"The Arroz con Pollo is exceptionally good here."

The waiter moved to his left and it revealed the man from which the voice came from. This man was as beautiful as the sunsets that I witnessed during my travels. The man came closer to the table.

"I noticed you from the other side of the restaurant. May I join you?" he said.

"Do I know you, Senor?" I asked.

"I don't think so, but I would like to get to know you."

"Please sit down, Senor."

He sat down and shared my booth. I looked at the waiter.

"Please bring me the Arroz con Pollo," I said.

"Right away Senorita," said the waiter.

"Make that for two," the man added.

"Very good Senor."

The waiter left. The man and I looked at each other.

"Who are you Senor?" I asked.

"Please forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Luis Vargas."

He extended his hand towards me and I accepted it.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Rebecca Morales."

He kissed my hand in the most tender way and smiled at me.

"Have you been here long?" Luis asked.

"I just arrived this afternoon."

"Do you know anybody here?"

"No."

"Then you are traveling alone?"

"Yes I am. Is that strange to see someone traveling alone?"

"Yes and no. No if you are a man, but yes since you are a woman."

The waiter brought our dinner and we continued talking while we ate. The meal came to an end and the dishes were taken away. The waiter brought the check and set it in the middle of the table. I reached for it but Luis retrieved it before I had the chance to get to it.

"Please, you are my guest," he said.

"That is very kind of you, but I cannot accept."

"Why not?"

"It wouldn't be proper for a lady to accept such a kind gesture from a man she met not more than two hours ago."

He smiled. "Please,it would be an honor."

The look on his face was sincere and I felt like I could trust him.

"Are you sure, Senor?"

"Yes, I am sure, and please call me Luis."

I smiled at him and then cast my eyes downward. Luis put the amount of the check on the small tray that it came on; the waiter came and took the money. Luis got up from the booth and extended his hand towards me, I accepted his hand and he helped me up. We walked out of the dinning room and into the lobby of the hotel.

"Are you staying here in the hotel?" Luis asked.

"Yes I am."

We walked towards the staircase.

"Thank you for dinner and the company," I said.

"You are quite welcome."

"I shall say good evening then."

I started up the stairs when he stopped me by touching my arm. I turned to look at him.

"Rebecca, may I see you again?" Luis asked.

I looked at him.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Luis."

"Why not?"

I couldn't tell him why, I couldn't tell anybody.

"We hardly know each other."

"What a better way to get to know one another then to spend time together. Please Rebecca I would very much like to see you again."

I looked into his eyes and found myself giving in to his invitation. I smiled at him.

"I think it would be nice."

Luis smiled.

"Wonderful. May I pick you up tomorrow around 10:00 am?"

"That will be just fine."

"What room are you staying in?"

"I think it would be proper to meet you here in the lobby."

Luis smiled.

"All right. I will see you then. Good night Rebecca."

He took my hand in his and kissed it.

"Good night Luis."

Luis smiled as he watched me walk up the stairs.

As I walked down the staircase the following morning I was surprised to see that Luis was standing at the bottom waiting for me. He took off his Panama style hat and extended his right hand towards me. As I accepted his hand he kissed mine.

"Good morning Rebecca," he said.

"Good morning, Luis."

"I hope that you slept well."

"Yes I did, thank you."

"Shall we go?"

"Where to?"

"I thought that we'd go for a carriage ride through the countryside, and then perhaps we'd have lunch at my hacienda, if that is agreeable with you, of course?"

"It's sounds like a lovely idea."

"Come, let us start our ride then."

He offered his left arm and I accepted it by putting my arm through his. We walked outside and there awaiting us was an open black carriage. Luis helped me into the carriage and once I was settled he got in. He took the reins in his hands and snapped them on the rear of the horse and we were off. We rode through the beautiful countryside; we stopped at one point so the horse could rest a bit.

"So what do you think of the scenery?" Luis asked.

I looked around at the lush green trees and the beautiful colors of the flowers that were around the trunks of the trees.

"It's beautiful. The colors are so vibrant, it's wonderful."

"Would you like to take a walk?"

"Yes I would, thank you."

Luis got down from the carriage then helped me down as well. We walked through the open field talking.

"I'm having a lovely time Luis, thank you so much."

"It should be I who should be thanking you," Luis said.

We continued walking. Luis then bent down and picked a wild flower from the field and handed it to me. I accepted it.

"Thank you, it's beautiful."

"Not half as beautiful as you."

I looked at the flower so that I would not look into his eyes.

"Shall we go and have lunch at my hacienda?"

"Yes."

We walked back and got into the carriage and headed towards Luis' hacienda. We arrived at the hacienda awhile later. Luis helped me out of the carriage and we walked inside. As we entered the main salon Sara, the housekeeper, greeted us.

"Good afternoon Don Luis," Sara said.

"Hello Sara. Is lunch ready?" Luis asked.

"Si Senor. Todo esta listo."

We followed her onto the patio where lunch was already waiting for us. Luis pulled out the chair for me and I sat down, he sat in the other chair across from me.

"Sara, this is Senorita Rebecca Morales. Rebecca, this is Sara."

"Mucho gusto Senorita," Sara said.

"Mucho gusto Sara," I answered.

"Please call me if you need anything else," Sara said.

"Gracias, Sara," Luis answered. Sara left.

"Shall we eat?" Luis said.

"Yes."

We ate lunch and then Luis gave me a tour of the property. As we walked through the garden I couldn't help but notice the beauty of all the flowers as well as the hacienda. It was the most beautiful house that I had ever seen. As we walked I didn't notice that there was a small hole in my path, all of a sudden my left foot stepped into the hole and as I stumbled Luis quickly grabbed me around the waist so I wouldn't fall. He pulled me close to him and held me tightly.

"Are you all right Rebecca?" he asked.

"Yes I'm fine, thank you."

We stood looking into each other's eyes. Just as he was about to kiss me I put my left foot on the ground and found that when I did this it hurt.

"Ouch!" I said loudly.

"Did you hurt yourself?" Luis asked.

"I think I might have stepped wrong."

I put weight on my left foot again and once I did this I knew that I had hurt it.

"Ouch!"

"Forgive me for what I am about to do, Rebecca."

Luis bent down and carefully lifted the bottom of my dress to expose my ankle.

"Just as I suspected," Luis said.

"What?"

"You have sprained your ankle."

"Oh no. It never fails."

"What never fails?"

Luis stood up.

"Everytime I take a walk in a beautiful place I always manage to hurt my ankle."

"Don't be too harsh on yourself."

I tried to start walking back to the hacienda but it was too painful. Luis then in one swoop picked me up in his arms.

"I think this would be better," he said.

As he carried me back I felt totally embarrassed by being carried. He carried me into the living room and set me gently on the sofa. Sara came running over.

"Don Luis, que paseo?" she said.

"She sprained her ankle. Tell Rafael to fill that hole in the garden path right away, then get some ice to stop the swelling," Luis said.

"Si, Don Luis, right away."

Sara ran to the kitchen to get the ice. Luis gently raised the bottom of my dress just enough to expose my ankle. He removed my shoe and put my foot on one of the pillows that was on the sofa. Sara returned with a pan of ice and a towel, she wrapped some pieces of the ice in the towel and gently placed it on my ankle.

"How does that feel, Senorita Rebecca?" Sara asked.

"It feels just fine, thank you, Sara."

Luis pulled up a chair and sat by me with a concerned look on his face.

"Would you like for me to send for a doctor?" Luis asked.

"I don't think that would be necessary, but thank you anyway."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure, but I do think it would be best if you would take me back to the hotel."

Luis looked at me with a surprised look on his face.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to be a bother to you or any others here."

"Don't be silly, you are certainly not a bother. It was on my property that you injured yourself and besides who will take care of you if you go back to the hotel?"

"I can take care of myself."

"No I won't hear of it. You will stay here until your able to take care of yourself."

"But.."

"I won't take no for an answer. I will send for your things that way you will have them here with you."

"Luis that is very kind of you but.."

He took my hand in his and looked into my eyes.

"Rebecca please, let me do this for you."

"How can I refuse a man with such beautiful eyes."

Suddenly I realized what I had just said. I looked away from him.

"Luis I shouldn't have taken such liberty by saying that. Please forgive me."

Luis smiled and kissed my hand.

"There is nothing to be forgiven," Luis said.

"That is one of my biggest faults," I said.

"What is?"

"At times I can be too forward with my thoughts and being like that has gotten me into a lot of trouble."

"Well the times we live in need to be changed so that you have the freedom to speak your mind freely."

"Well maybe someday the women of the world will have that freedom."

Luis moved closer to me.

"Well until that day comes, if you get into any trouble with speaking your mind I will be there to help in any that I possibly can."

"I have never met anyone like you Luis Vargas."

"And I have never met any one like you Rebecca Morales."

He tenderly kissed me.