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8:22 p.m.

Death-Cast did not call because she is not dying today.

Gloria is a planner, her affairs are certainly in order should the grim reaper knock on her door, but she hadn’t planned on

opening her home to Joaquin and Naya Rosa tonight. They are absolutely welcome here, especially as Gloria is hosting their

wonderful son, but she does worry if they will all get along considering the ramifications of the first End Day and recent

events between Pazito and Alano. She will plan on a good night and hope for civility.

“Cheers to new friends,” Gloria says, and everyone clinks their mango smoothies. “Now dig in.”

The servings feel too shallow to dig in; that pizza better heat up fast.

“Do you have any wine?” Joaquin asks.

“Pa,” Alano says.

“One glass among new friends,” he says.

“This is an alcohol-free home,” Rolando says.

Ever since Pazito took Rolando’s bourbon and tried killing himself.

Gloria shivers at the memory while also wondering why Alano is scolding Joaquin. Is it because they know of Pazito’s history and Joaquin has forgotten? Or because Joaquin has his own relationship with alcohol that needs minding? She suspects the latter after Joaquin says not to worry about the lack of alcohol, since Alano seems worried. She studies Naya, fearing that maybe Joaquin’s spirit goes dark the more he drinks, just as Frankie’s would, but Naya does not seem scared of her husband. That is not to say abuse does not happen in their home, only that Gloria will be keeping an eye on her guests tonight.

“You helped make this salsa?” Naya asks Alano as she scoops some with her tortilla chip, which feels more like a distraction

from Joaquin’s drinking. “Gloria, Rolando, I hope you’re honest about enjoying Alano’s company because I need you to teach

him everything you know.”

“Happily. He’s a fast learner,” Gloria says. She means it.

“You’re a patient teacher,” Alano says.

“How about you, Paz? Do you like cooking?” Naya asks.

Pazito shrugs. “Not really, but we had fun today.”

“It was good to get our mind off current events,” Alano says pointedly.

Joaquin snickers. “Eating the dinner you prepared is good for that too.”

“Speaking of work...” Naya glares at the men of her family before relaxing her gaze as she turns to Gloria. “You’re an

intake coordinator at a women’s shelter?”

Gloria smiles proudly. “I am. Did Alano tell you?”

Naya blushes. “Honestly, Shield-Cast informed us. I should be fully transparent that we had security do background checks on everyone after our boys started hanging out. I apologize for the invasiveness.”

“Not any more invasive than Dane going through my underwear drawer,” Rolando says.

“We understand wholeheartedly,” Gloria says. If she had the means, she would do the same to protect Pazito. Bodyguards, background

checks, inspections, the whole nine yards. All she can offer her son is guidance, hope, prayers, and a subscription to Death-Cast.

“I’ll give you my number after dinner so you can check in whenever you like.”

“It’s already saved in my phone for emergencies,” Naya says, which they laugh about. “The background check, however, doesn’t

know what brought you to the Persida Women’s Center.”

Gloria feels Frankie’s shadow looming, like those times where he would follow her around the apartment to scream in her face

or worse. This fear continues to live in her body, and as much as she wants to be a good host who keeps things light for her

guests, she refuses to sit in silence ever again.

“I know what it’s like to be a woman who needs help,” Gloria says, owning her past. “My ex-husband was abusive, but I always thought he was going to change, especially when I was pregnant with Pazito. He never did, but he never laid a hand on our son, so I got it in my head that being the best mother meant keeping the family together. I couldn’t give Pazito everything he wanted, but I made sacrifices so that he would at least have his father around.” Her heart is beating so hard she wonders if anyone can hear it in this silence. “I will never regret that relationship completely because it gave me my Pazito, but being the best mother would’ve been leaving Frankie forever after he lost money gambling in Atlantic City and took it out on me when I was five months pregnant. I lived in fear of my ex-husband until the day he died.”

Until the day Pazito killed Frankie and set Gloria free while imprisoning his own destiny.

“I’m so sorry,” Naya says. “You didn’t deserve that violence.”

“No woman deserves that violence, and I wanted to serve the women who believe they do. As an intake coordinator, I get the

privilege of being the first woman to support a woman’s choice to start over. I’m able to empathize with my own regrets about

not leaving sooner without ever judging them for staying as long as they did.” Gloria puts a hand to her chest. “I loved being

a stay-at-home mom with my whole heart, but I love supporting my community in my own small way.”

“There is nothing small about what you’re doing,” Naya says.

This recognition means the world to Gloria as she knows her job is not one that pays for a house with its own dining room

and dining table and matching dining ware, but it allows her to help women find new homes, humble as they may be. “The shelter

is no Death-Cast, but I am very proud of the work I do,” she says on the verge of tears.

Naya comes and kneels before Gloria, taking her hand. “We are all serving the community, Gloria, but the work you are doing is what keeps our heralds from speaking to the women at your shelter before they can live the lives they deserve.”

That is the moment Gloria breaks, hugging Naya as she cries. “Thank you for saying that. I always wish I could do more.”

“All great heroes do.”

Like all great heroes, is a veteran in life’s wars.

A survivor.