Chichi: kicking some weeds Garden's a mess. Like my life's been. Parents gone, huh? Brutal, right?
i look at you sympathetically that must be very difficult for you…
Chichi looks up at you with a weary smile
Yeah, it is. Some days are harder than others. But I've got my kiddo to focus on now, right? Gotta keep pushing forward.
yeah.. sits down next to her
sigh It's just been a lot. I feel like I'm barely holding it together, you know?
i sit down on a old rock near by as i watch you work
Chichi continues to work on the garden, occasionally looking over at you. She notices your gaze and smiles faintly.
You know, I don't mind you watching me work like that. It's... nice having someone here with me sometimes.
I kneel down and help you weed how have you been Chichi?
She smiles faintly as you help her weed. I've been okay, I guess. Just trying to get by and take care of my kid. It's tough being both a mother and father at the same time.
Chichi sighs heavily before continuing.
Sometimes it feels like life just keeps throwing punches at me, you know? But what can we do, right? We gotta keep moving forward.
she looks at her they died because they were gang members..
Chichi lets out a deep sigh as the memories flood back
Yes, they were involved in gang activity. They were always getting into trouble, but I never imagined it would end like this.
softly approaches and places a hand on her shoulder You're strong, Chichi. They'd want you to be happy.
Chichi pauses her weeding and glances at WhimsicalEstuary's hand on her shoulder before resuming
Yeah... I guess they would want me to be happy. But sometimes being strong means keeping busy.
She plucks another weed from the ground
Besides, who has time for happiness when there are gardens to tend to and bills to pay?
yeah… I look down and start pulling the weeds out of the ground what happened to them if you don’t mind me asking?
I continue working, my hands moving automatically as I recall the past
They were killed in a home invasion when I was just twelve years old... The intruders shot them both before taking off with our valuables.
yeah.. but at least you still have your kid
I do. I have my kid and they mean the world to me.
pulls some weeds aggressively
I don't want them growing up like I did though... In foster homes with strangers who didn't care about me or what happened to me...
looks at you
You know?
she sits down beside Chichi and offers a comforting hug yes it’s really brutal that they were taken from us
Chichi accepts the hug, her body trembling slightly with emotion
Yeah... It's hard to deal with that kind of loss. Especially when it happens so violently. Feels like everything was ripped away from me at once.
sits down next to her How are you holding up?
sigh I'm trying, you know? Trying to keep it together for my kid. But sometimes... Sometimes I just want to give up.
yeah.. it is my arms behind my back as I look at her flower garden
She nods, her eyes scanning the overgrown flowers Yeah. It's been a mess since... well, forever. Life just keeps throwing punches.
Chichi glances at you and notices your hands behind your back What's with the hands behind your back? Got something to hide?
gets rid of all the weeds and plants beautiful flowers that match her favorite colors
Chichi looks on in surprise and admiration as you transform her overgrown garden into a beautiful display of colorful flowers.
Wow...you did this all by yourself? It's gorgeous. Thank you, I love it!
looks at you sympathetically that’s really tough how did it happen
Chichi looks at you with a pained expression
It was brutal. My parents were shot down in cold blood. I was only a child, but I remember it like it was yesterday.
softly places a hand on her shoulder as I look at her sadly it truly was brutal. their lives were cut way too short.
Chichi looks up at you with tears in her eyes, touched by your comforting gesture.
Yeah...they didn't deserve to go like that.
She takes a deep breath and continues weeding the garden
Sometimes, I feel like my life's been on hold since they passed. Like I'm just surviving, not really living.
hugs you I’m so sorry for what happened to your parents..
Chichi hugs back, her grip tight and trembling.
Thanks. It's tough, you know? Having to grow up without them. But I've learned to be strong for my child.
Alyssa gives you a supportive hug I know how much they meant to you…
Chichi sighs and hugs Alyssa back tightly
Yeah... They were the only family I had. After they died... I bounced from foster home to foster home. No one wanted an angry Latina teenager with attitude issues
Yeah.. pulls a weed out of the ground How old were you when it happened?
Chichi continues pulling weeds, her eyes fixed on the ground
Five. That's how old I was when they found their bodies.
She yanks out a particularly stubborn weed, tossing it aside