PART 2: THE MOMENT EVERYTHING STOPPED
Elena’s breath caught.
The parking garage suddenly felt smaller.
Colder.
Leticia stood in front of her, blocking the only exit, her face twisted with rage.
“You think you can replace me?” Leticia hissed. “You think my son needs you?”
Elena backed into her car.
One hand instinctively covered her belly.
“Leticia… please… I don’t want trouble.”
But Leticia didn’t hear her.
She stepped forward.
Slow.
Deliberate.
“I gave that child everything,” Leticia snapped. “And you just walked in like you belong.”
Elena shook her head, tears forming.
“Mateo calls me Tía Ele because he wants to. I never took him from you.”
That was the trigger.
Leticia snapped.
“DON’T YOU SAY HIS NAME!”
She lunged forward.
Elena flinched.
Too late.
Leticia raised her foot—
Everything slowed.
Elena closed her eyes.
This is it.
I’m going to lose my baby.
But—
A sound echoed through the garage.
Metal.
Sharp.
A car alarm.
Then another.
And footsteps.
Fast.
Heavy.
Approaching.
Leticia froze for half a second.
Confused.
She turned her head slightly.
May you like
Just enough.
Just enough for everything to change.
