Chapter 13: Uncharted Waters
Beneath the Weight of Water | 1980s Mexican American Women’s Fiction
Previously:
Ellie’s offer of a ride became a test Lucia had not agreed to take. Her questions pressed too close to Matteo, to Lucia’s plans, and to the small piece of privacy Lucia had claimed for herself. By the time Lucia walked away, she understood that refusing help could be its own kind of freedom.
New to the Serial? Start Here | Need the previous chapter? Chapter 12: Not a Bird
Lucia
I am half agony, half hope.
~Jane Austen
The memory of that ride with Ellie lingered; every glance peeled Lucia’s skin back. Each replay brought back Ellie’s fake smile, probing questions, and guilt-tripping.
When Matteo pulled up, his red sports car was gone, replaced by a midsize SUV, a surfboard riding the roof. Lucia’s stomach burned, sharp enough to make her shift her feet. Maybe he was like everyone else, saying one thing but doing another. He’d try to put her on the board. People always pushed for a performance.
