When he drank katy terraza
MynameisKati,andIwasonlyfouryearsold.Ilivedwithmymom,mytwosisters Natalia, whowasfive,andYadi,whowastwelve andmystepfather.Hedrankalot,andwhenhe drank,thehousenolongerfeltsafe.Ididn'tunderstandwhyhechangedsomuch,whyone minutehecouldbelaughingandthenexthe'dbeyelling.
That day he came home looking different. He was well-dressed, his hair perfectly combed, his shirt ironed, and his shoes clean. For a moment, everything seemed calm. My mother looked at him from the kitchen and said something I didn't understand, something in a low voice. But her tone wasn't her usual one. Then I saw her grab a pot from the stove, as if she were preparing to defend herself.
Hepushedher.Shetriedtohithim,buthetookthe potfromherandhitherwithit.Iheardthethud— loud,sharp—thatbrokethesilence.Ifroze.WhenI rantowheremymotherwas,Isawherfacecovered inblood.Hergazewasvacant,asifthepainhadleft herbreathless.
I will never forget that image. Blood trickled down her cheek and fell to the ground, one drop, then another, and another.
Iwentbacktothekitchentocontinuewashingthe dishes.Idon'tknowwhyIdidit,perhapsbecause mybodydidn'tknowwhatelsetodo.WhatIsaw andheardmademyhandstremble.Istoodstill, unabletomove,andthewaterkeptrunningovermy fingers,movingasifnothingwerehappening.
Yadiwasalreadycryingunderthecovers,herfacehidden. NataliaandIgotintobedwithher.Wehuggedeachother tightly,trembling.Outsidetheroom,thescreamsmingled withtheblows.Wecouldhearmymother'svoiceandhis, louder,angrier,sayingwordswedidn'tunderstand.Igrabbed mysister'shandandtriedtomakemyselfsmaller.
Then we heard a loud noise, like something had fallen or broken. The sound filled the house. The neighbors started banging on the door, and we could hear their worried voices outside. My heart was beating so fast I felt like it was going to explode. I didn't know whether to run or stay put. Yadi was telling us not to go outside, to wait.
Afterawhile,everythingwentsilent.Mymothercame intotheroom.Herfacewasswollen,hermouthwassplit, andhereyeswerefilledwithtears.Shetoldustogo outsidewithher.Wefollowedherinsilence.Thehouse smelledoffear,sweat,andmetal,asiftheveryairhad beenfilledwithpain.
Whenwewentoutside,thewindfeltcoldonmyface. Ididn'twanttolookback,butIheardhimthrowing thingsinsidethehouse.Theneighborswatchedus withoutsayingaword.Oneofthemhuggedmy motherandhelpedherwalk.ThatdayIlearnedwhat silencefeelslikeaftershouting.
