Caravan -Part 2

 The sun was ready to slide below the horizon and cooler air had begun to blow. Alejandra felt a little better. She had spent her seventh birthday on a trip she was overjoyed to take. She had jumped with joy when she learnt they were migrating  and had told everyone in San Antonio Secortez about the new life she and her father were going to live.

Within days, she would go from an impoverished life where she’d never owned a toy — to one where she hoped she’d learn to read and write, and, eventually, join her father in making money to send to their family back home.

She opened her eyes. Her father stood talking to a handful of migrants about the next move. 

“Just one last stretch on foot along the dirt road through high desert” one of the migrant said, “And we would all cross into the United States. End of a 2,000 mile journey.”

One of them looked at Alejandra and handed a bottle of clean water to Francisco.

"Drink this Alec" he whispered. "Just a couple of hours after dark and we'll be a part of a larger group."

Soon after in the silvery moonlight, dozens of unaccompanied children with almost a hundred plus people made it to the Antelope Wells, New Mexico. This was considered the most remote spot along America’s entire southern border. It was December, yet in those early hours of the morning, the entire area was sun-baked. It was a forbidden place with only four buildings, the border agency’s port of entry, two houses and a trailer.

Francisco spotted a patrolling agent, slid behind a bush trying to camouflage, and instructed the others to do the same. But the binoculars of one of the guards caught them. 

"There they are!" Shouted the one with the binoculars and within second’s four patrolling agents pounced towards them. Everybody hassled to hide and run but the agents succeeded in their mission.

All of them were detained. In the camp, they had periodic access to food and water, but Alejandra didn’t improve. Francisco informed the immigration officials about her deteriorating condition, and they decided to transfer her by bus to a border facility. 

"My daughter is puking sir" Francisco noted to the agents after he made Alejandra sit on a vacant seat.

"I warn you take care of her and call me soon." He said as the bus left.

During the 90-minute bus ride, Alejandra felt worse. Her breath rate accelerated, her skin grew sweaty and her body shivered. She was too weak to speak, but would occasionally open her tired eyes only to sense her energy sinking speedily. The nurse on the bus put her on intra-venous glucose, but a body that had not eaten or consumed water for several days, couldn't respond to the emergency measures.

Gradually, her drowsiness increased and she was no more conscious to the external world. A helicopter flew her to the Providence Children’s Hospital in ElPaso. In her illusionary world however, she saw herself as a learned women of the US. She was seated in a luxurious car that was driving her to a space shuttle launching site where huge number of spectators had gathered to see her ascending into the outer space. 

Hours and minutes ticked down to the launch. It was T-minus9minutes, and the ground teams was performing he final checks before giving the final "go."

It were the last few minutes before the vehicle would roar into the sky. There was an air of excitement and anticipation. Alejandra felt happy to go into the outer space like Pakal the great. She was happy to have designed this special space craft just the way he had years and years ago. A broad smile spread across her face. It was T-minus 7 minutes, 30 seconds: The orbiter access arm was retracted. At T-minus 5 minutes, Alejandra, the commander of the shuttle started the orbiter's auxiliary power units. She ordered her crewmates to close the visors of their launch and entry suits. Each of the three main engines got ignited and roared to life.

Bright xenon lights flared. The bolts that secured the shuttle to the ground explosively released. And Alejandra rocketed into the sky. She had an unusual, unexplained feeling and she vomited. But as the vehicle went farer from the earth, the lighter and lighter she felt. She could no longer feel her body....she was like a feather. 

And then it was all peaceful and silent. All dark. Absolutely nothing for miles and miles. And then she saw the silver cord as shining as a star. She saw herself walking on the cord towards a place that was so bright.....full of lights.... Heaven! She exclaimed.

Just a week later, a heart-shaped sign, was constructed out of wood and wrapped in plastic with the name Alejandra Rosemary Maquin at her family house in Guatemala.

The news papers read, '7-year-old Guatemalan girl died in custody at US border. The autopsy report concludes sepsis shock and cardiac arrest.'


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