Chapter 5 "Blank"

Heidi slowly awakened to the pain all over her body. She looked around and realized she was in a hospital bed. She saw her arm had an I.V. with scratches and bruises. Sticky patches and wires from the Halter Monitor adorned her bruised arm. Heidi tried to sit up slowly, but the incredible pain in her neck wouldn't let her. She slowly laid her head back on the pillow. What was happening to her? Most of all, what happened to her? She cried softly to herself. She was confused and scared. All she wanted was to be home with her parents and her baby brother, Logan.

Then, a nurse came into Heidi's hospital room.

"Oh, thank the Lord. You're awake," the nurse rejoiced, "We thought we lost you, little one. Let's check your vital signs."

The nurse saw tears in the little girl's eyes.

"Honey, it's ok," the nurse assured the patient, "You are safe. No one is going to hurt you anymore."

Heidi looked at the nurse strangely, with tears running down her face.

'Anymore? What did she mean by that,' Heidi thought, 'who tried to hurt me?'

Then, a man and a woman walked into the room. Heidi's parents, Hilda and Santiago Velazquez worry, relief, and sadness painted their faces. They rushed to their injured daughter's bedside. They spoke to Heidi with terror and concern, but Heidi was in so much pain, that she could not respond. The nurse tried to calm them down, but her parents insisted on answers. In the middle of the yelling and arguing, Heidi wept in pain and fear. Her mind was a total blank.

Twenty-five years later, Heidi had grown to be well-rounded with a career as a child therapist. Her life seemed ideal, but it felt like pieces of her life were missing. Heidi remembered being in the hospital when she was about ten years old. However, she couldn't remember the series of events that led to her being in the hospital. Heidi knew that she was in an unfortunate accident, but she thought nothing else of it. She figured that she had a terrible accident as a child, but she recovered from her injuries. However, from that accident, she developed Plastybolsaphobia.

"Are there any more appointments, Genesis," Heidi asked her receptionist?

"No, that was the last client."

"Ok. Well, it's 5 pm anyway. Time to close up shop for the day."

"Ok."

When she turned her head to the waiting area, Heidi saw a little girl sitting in a chair. Her hair was in a French braid with a purple ribbon. She wore a purple and pink striped shirt, with jeans rolled up on the cuff, which showed off her purple sneakers. The little girl looked scared with tears in her eyes.

"Genesis, I thought there were no more clients," Heidi said.

"There aren't any more clients," Genesis clarified.

"Then why is there a little girl sitting there?"

"Dr. Velazquez, there is no one there."

Heidi looked again; the little girl disappeared.

"Dr. Velazquez, are you ok," Genesis asked?

"I...I guess I'm a little tired," Heidi confirmed.

"Ok ...well...you should go home and get some rest. You look like you saw a ghost, all of a sudden."

"...right...Anyway, enjoy your weekend."

"You too, Dr. Velazquez. Bye"

"Bye, Genesis."

Meet Dr. Heidi Velazquez, MSW. Young, ambitious, intelligent, and evaluator of the behavior and psyche of children. With sensitivity and patience, her clients look to her as a "big sister," "mother figure," or only "a friend." Then a "blank" in the form of a little girl interrupts her picture-perfect life. To Heidi, it is a "blank" that piqued her curiosity. This "blank" will also guide Heidi to a nightmare she cannot remember. It will be the answer Heidi must face, here, in the Pink Foxxx Hole.

Heidi caught the train home. At the same time, as she waited by the platform, a strange man stared at her. He stared at her with hungry eyes, smoking his cigarette. Heidi didn't notice; she was too busy staring at the train's lights and pulling into the station. When she boarded the train, she looked around the car for the little girl. The little girl was not there.

'I must have been working too hard,' Heidi thought, 'It's the weekend. I'll have plenty of time to recharge.'

When Heidi finally reached home, she found the same little girl. The little girl was sitting at the bottom of the stairs. She was not crying anymore, but she had a blank stare on her face.

"You again," Heidi said to the little girl, "Do I know you? Are you lost? Are you visiting?"

The little girl said nothing.

"You know, it's hazardous for children to be alone," Heidi suggested, "I would invite you into my apartment, but I know about "stranger danger."

"You're not a stranger to me," the little girl assured Heidi, "I know all about you."

"Do you?"

"Yes, we are from the same neighborhood."

"Oh, you do live in this neighborhood."

"No, I live in an old neighborhood. Don't you, remember? Don't you remember the old neighborhood?"

"Sure, I do, but I think you should call your parents."

"That won't be necessary; they know I am safe."

"Oh. Well, in that case, you should come inside my place."

They went into Heidi's apartment.

"You can have a seat on the loveseat," Heidi suggested.

"Thanks," the little girl replied.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

"I'm a little hungry. What do you have?"

"Well, I have some gummy bears in my cabinet."

"Gummy bears? I love candy."

"Ok. Let's split it."

Heidi looks into her cabinet and pulls out a bag of gummy bears. She opened the bag and pulled out a hand full of candy. She split it between her and the little guest.

"I love candy," Heidi said, eating between bites.

"Me too. I love candy so much, my family nicknamed me "Dulcita," the little girl explained, stuffing gummy bears into her mouth, "and then the neighborhood started calling me "Dulcita."

Somehow, the little girl's statement set off a trigger in Heidi's mind.

"What happened, Heidi," the little girl asked suspiciously, "Was it something I said?"

"Um...no," Heidi replied, "Wait, how did you know my name?"

"I told you. I know all about you."

"Right. Are you sure your parents won't be worried about you?"

"No, they know I'm in good hands. You're a kind, gentle person, but you're not a pushover. You're a survivor like me."

"A survivor?"

"Yeah. One day, I was playing with the neighborhood kids on the playground, and I fell. I scraped my arm very badly; my arm was bleeding. I didn't cry, but it hurt. Then..."

"What happened?"

"He came to help me. He took me to his home. I thought that was ok because my parents liked him. Anyway, he bandaged my bruise."

"That was very nice of him."

"Yeah. I thanked Don Mauricio. He told me to be careful. Then he told me something I thought was kind of strange."

"What did he say?"

"He said that I was too pretty to get hurt."

"It sounds odd, but his heart was in the right place."

"Anyway, he kept telling me I was a pretty girl...and he was stroking my bruised arm."

"He stroked your arm. Why did he do that?"

"I don't know, but it felt weird."

The little girl gently stroked her arm, which had a huge scar.

"What happened," Heidi asked curiously?

The little girl looked at Heidi. She saw the puzzled look on Heidi's face.

With disappointment, the little girl said, "It's nothing. Anyway, he was a family friend. The whole neighborhood knew him. He seemed to be a nice guy."

Then the little girl noticed something.

The little girl said, "Hey! My scar looks sort of like your scar."

Heidi looked at the scar on her arm. It was on the same arm in the same location as the little girl's arm. Heidi was shocked.

"Did you get hurt the same way as me," the little girl asked curiously?

"I...I can't remember. There's a lot of things I can't remember from my childhood," Heidi explained.

Suddenly, footsteps were coming towards Heidi's door.

The little girl jumped from the loveseat with terror.

"It's him," the little girl cried, "He's coming to get me."

"Other people live in the building."

"I know it's him. He's coming to get me."

"Who is he? What's his name? Is it that guy you mentioned," Heidi asked with deep concern?

Then the doorbell rang. Heidi was beginning to suspend that the little girl may be right.

"I won't let anything happen to you," Heidi told the little girl, "Go hide in my bedroom. I'll handle this, asshole."

The little girl ran into the bedroom, as instructed. Heidi's apprehension grew. She looked through the peephole. It turned out to be her younger brother, Logan Velazquez; Heidi was relieved.

"Hey, bro," Heidi greeted when she opened the door.

"How are you sis," Logan replied?

They hugged each other.

"Good," Heidi answered, "Make yourself at home."

"Sure," Logan replied, "I heard you talking to someone. Do you have a visitor?"

"Yeah. Her name is "Dulcita."

"Dulcita?"

"Yeah. People call her "Dulcita" because she loves candy."

"Are you babysitting?"

"You could say that. We talked. We ate gummy bears..."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah! I ate some candy. She ate all of her candy."

"She didn't eat any candy."

"What do you mean?"

"The candy is still there."

Heidi looked at the gummy bears on the table.

"I could have sworn she ate them all," she said with shock and dismay, "She practically inhaled them. Weird. Anyway, I told her to call her parents."

"Did she call her parents?"

"No, "Dulcita," said that it was ok."

"It's not ok! You don't bring someone else's child into your home. You deal with child behavior all the time. Are you crazy?"

"What if someone else took her? A rapist? A kidnapper? A pedophile? Besides, she said that she's from our old neighborhood, and she knew me."

"It doesn't matter! You could get into a lot of trouble for this. The police won't care if your intentions are good."

"You're right. You're right. Let me go find this kid," Heidi said, getting up from the sofa, "She was so scared, she went to hide in the bedroom."

Heidi and Logan looked for the little girl all over the apartment. They couldn't find her anywhere.

"I don't see her," Logan concluded.

Then a thought came to Logan.

He asked his sister, "Were you called "Dulcita" when you were a little girl?"

Heidi stopped and looked at him strangely.

"I don't think so," Heidi answered.

She continued to look for the little girl. Suddenly, in the middle of Heidi's search, she heard singing.

"Listen," Heidi said to her brother, "Do you hear that?"

"Do I hear what," Logan asked?

"Singing."

"I don't hear anything."

"Someone is singing. A child is singing. It's "Dulcita." "Dulcita" must be singing. "Dulcita!" "Dulcita!"

Logan looked at his sister with concern.

"Sis, I don't hear anyone singing, especially a child," Logan said with certainty.

"Logan, she's singing loud," Heidi insisted, "How could you not hear her?"

Then, Heidi started singing along softly. Logan was growing concerned for his sister's state of mind.

"Heidi. Heidi," Logan called out to his sister, trying to get her attention!

Heidi stopped signing.

"What is it," Heidi asked?

"Are you ok," Logan asked with deep concern?

"Yeah! I'm just singing "In My Eyes" by Stevie B."

"...but there's no music."

"Yes, there is. I can't believe you don't hear it. Wait! It stopped. The singing stopped."

Logan felt deeply concerned about his sister.

He started, "Hey, I have a suggestion. Let's go out to dinner. I'll treat you."

Heidi asked, "...but what about "Dulcita"? I can't leave her alone; she trusts me. She said that she feels safe with me. I have to go find her again."

"...but...never mind."

Logan could not argue with Heidi. She felt determined to find her little friend. About twenty minutes later, Heidi realized she couldn't find the little girl.

"Wow," Heidi said, dumbfounded, "I guess she's gone."

"Maybe she snuck out and went home. Look, sis," Logan said, putting his arm around his sister, "let's go out to dinner. I'll pay, ok? You've been working too hard. You need to relax."

"Sure."

As Heidi locked her door, she and her brother continue to decide where to dine. The siblings finally decided to go to a restaurant called the Boriqua Buffet. They had a great time. They ate delicious food and had a great conversation.

"My stomach is full," Heidi said, patting her full stomach.

"Me too," Logan said.

Logan called the waitress to their table for a go-box. Within a few minutes, the waitress returned with a go-box and a plastic bag.

"What the hell is that," Heidi cried out in terror, "Why did she bring that thing?? Get it away from me!!!"

"Ok. Ok, Heidi. It's cool," Logan said calmly, removing the plastic bag out of Heidi's sight, "It's gone. I got rid of it, ok? Relax."

The waitress heard Heidi scream.

"Is there something wrong," the waitress asked with concern?

"No, ma'am," Logan said, reassuringly, "Everything is fine. We won't need this."

When Logan held up the plastic bag to the waitress, Heidi looked away with horror. The waitress felt confused, but she took the plastic bag and walked away from their table. After Logan paid for their meal, he and his sister wanted to get dessert from another place. Heidi and Logan went to get some dessert from the Dessert Duchess Bakery. It was getting late, and Logan had to go home.

"Thanks for taking me out to dinner," Heidi said to Logan, "It was lovely of you. I'm sorry for freaking out like that. I somehow have this phobia of plastic bags. It's weird."

"No problem," Logan replied, "I have a lot of fun. Are you going to be ok?"

"Yeah...I'm fine."

"Ok. Call me when you get home."

"Ok, Logan. I love you."

"I love you, too, sis."

Heidi catches the train home. During the train ride, she thought about "Dulcita." She thought about "Dulcita," getting injured in the playground and the scar on her arm. How was that possible for her and the little girl to have the same injury in the same place? When Heidi finally reached her apartment building, she looked to see if "Dulcita" was there. She wasn't. She took a deep breath, unlocked her door, and went inside her apartment. Heidi then locked the door behind her, called her brother, and went to bed.

The next day, Heidi went to visit her old neighborhood. She went to look for her little friend again; Heidi hoped the little girl returned home safely. She asked a few people in the area about "Dulcita," but they either never heard of her or have not seen her. Then, Heidi saw a playground across the street. She thought that "Dulcita" might be there. Heidi walked across the street to the playground. When she arrived at the playground, seeing the children playing with each other was a sight. She remembered playing in the park, as a little girl, with her friends from the neighborhood. The children played on the monkey bars, slid down the slides, and swung in the swing sets. They did not have a care in the world. Heidi looked around the playground for "Dulcita," but she couldn't find her. She felt defeated. Heidi then left the playground. While leaving, she bumped into a man. He looked twice Heidi's age. By appearance, he wasn't wealthy but comfortably secure. He was also of average height and built like a pillar.

"Oh! I'm so sorry," Heidi apologized.

"Oh, no. I'm the clumsy one," the man said, "especially for not paying attention to such a little beauty."

"Anyway, I hope you're ok."

"Oh, I'm fine, Heidi."

Heidi was shocked.

"How do you know me," Heidi asked?

"I have known you and your family for years. I'm Don Mauricio. Do you remember me?"

"Forgive me, but...your face doesn't ring a bell."

"Oh. I saw you at the train station the other day. I wanted to say "hi," but I didn't want you to think I was a creep."

"I see. Anyway, it's nice to meet you again, Don Mauricio."

They shook hands very slowly as they gazed into each other's eyes. Realizing they were shaking hands too long, they released each other's grip.

Don Mauricio said, "I...I'm glad you're doing well...and looking well too."

"Thanks," Heidi said

"I'm also glad you didn't get seriously hurt years ago," Don Mauricio said.

"Years ago?"

"People said that you were close to death, but you survived."

"Um...yeah. Thank the Lord."

"Amen."

"Anyway, I have to go."

When Heidi turned to walk away, Don Mauricio said, "Will I see you again, Heidi?"

Her heart stopped for a split second.

She turned around and said, "Maybe. I was looking for someone, but I don't see her."

"Really? Maybe I know her. What's her name?"

"Her name is "Dulcita." Do you know her? Have you seen her?"

"Um...no," Don Mauricio said.

"It's ok. "Dulcita" has to be here...somewhere. Anyway, I guess I'll see her later. I have to go."

"Ok. I guess I'll see you too. Are you coming back soon?"

"Yeah. Bye."

Heidi was about to walk to the train station. Suddenly, Don Mauricio called out to her.

"Heidi," Don Mauricio shouted, getting Heidi's attention!

"Yes," she answered.

"Don't move. I want to give you something. Don't move, ok?"

"Ok."

Don Mauricio rushed into the local bodega. About a few minutes later, he returned with a piece of paper and a pen.

Between panting, he said, "...If you don't mind, I would like to give you my number."

"Oh...," Heidi said with flattery, "Sure."

Don Mauricio gave the young woman his number.

She said, "Goodbye."

He replied, "See you later,...Heidi."

As Heidi walked away, he watched her fade into the distance. The way she walked away was like poetry in motion. Don Mauricio was in awe of her. Meanwhile, Heidi finally reached the train station. When she finally arrived home, there was "Dulcita," the little girl. She was sitting on the stairs, looking very upset.

"Hello, Heidi," the little girl greeted.

"Dulcita," Heidi said happily, "Where have you been?"

The little girl looked at Heidi sternly.

"What's wrong," Heidi asked?

"We need to talk...in private."

"Ok."

After Heidi unlocked the door, they both went inside Heidi's apartment. The little girl and Heidi sat down on the loveseat, face-to-face.

"So, talk to me," Heidi asked?

"Were you taught not to talk to strangers," the little girl asked sternly?

"Excuse me?"

"I saw you talk to...him."

"Who?"

"Were you in the neighborhood today?"

"Yes. How did you know I was in the neighborhood? Were you there?"

"This conversation isn't about me. This situation is about you and your safety. Now, don't you remember talking to Don Mauricio? Did you get his phone number?"

"Oh! Well, he said that he knew me from the neighborhood."

"Of course, he did."

"What are you saying? Is he lying?"

"No. Everyone knows Don Mauricio. He is highly respected because he has done a lot for the neighborhood. I, however, happened to know him very well."

"I don't get it. What's the problem?"

"You can't trust Don Mauricio, Heidi. Stay away from him!"

"Dulcita," you're ridiculous. Don Mauricio is a charming man."

"...but Heidi. You don't understand. He's dangerous."

"I think you should go home. Your family is probably worried sick about you."

Heidi stood up from her loveseat. She escorted the little girl out of the apartment.

"Heidi, you don't understand," the little girl argued.

"I understand that I'm dealing with a nosy little girl," Heidi rebutted, "Go!"

"Dulcita" was disappointed. She walked out of the apartment with her head hanging sheepishly. Heidi locked the door behind "Dulcita."

'Who does that little girl think she is,' Heidi thought?

She then pulled her phone and the piece of paper out of her pocket. The piece of paper had Don Mauricio's name and phone number. Heidi could hear the little girl's warning in her head, but she ignored it. However, she proceeded to dial his number. As the phone rang, Heidi was nervous.

"Hello," Don Mauricio answered.

"Hi. It's Heidi," she said, "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time."

"No! I'm glad you called. I'm just relaxing in bed. You could never catch me at a bad time."

"Good...I'm glad to hear that."

They talked for about an hour on the phone. While they spoke, Don Mauricio was masturbating to the sound of her voice. Then Heidi and Don Mauricio parted ways on the phone. He continued to massage his erection, thinking about Heidi.

"My "Dulcita" found me," Don Mauricio said, firmly rubbing his hard cock with a smile on his face.

The more he thought about Heidi, the firmer he rubbed his hard cock. The more he pleasured himself; the more aroused he became. He then pulled out his hard cock and balls from his underwear. He continued to jerk his cock over and over again. Suddenly, Don Mauricio reached his climax; he let out huge sighs of relief as his massive load of creamy nectar shot from his erected penis. His body quivered with satisfaction with a smile on his face. He took a few minutes to bask in the afterglow before collecting himself. Then, Don Mauricio went into the bathroom to clean the cum-covered mess he made on himself.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Heidi tossed and turned in her sleep.

It was late in the afternoon; Heidi walked into a flower garden with a tall, mysterious figure. They walked together while holding hand-to-hand.

"Isn't it beautiful here," the person asked?

"Yeah, it's very pretty," Heidi agreed, "...but I have to get home. My parents will be worried about me."

"It's ok, "Dulcita." They know you're with me. I promised them I would take care of you."

"Oh, ok."

While the person held Heidi's hand, the person gently caresses her hand. The uninvited caress made Heidi feel so uncomfortable; she pulled her hand away from him.

"What's wrong, "Dulcita," the person asked, "Don't want to be my special friend?"

"Um...yeah, "Dulcita," Heidi said hesitantly.

The person said, bending down on his knees, facing Heidi, "You know you're my "Dulcita." You'll always be my "Dulcita."

Heidi looked deep into the person's eyes. A weird feeling came over her.

Then the person said lovingly, "Please don't be mad at me. I just want to be friends, that's all. I would never hurt you. How is your arm?"

"It's ok."

The person looked at her injured arm and gently caressed her arm. The person looked deep into Heidi's eyes with a warm smile.

The person said, "It's healing. Your arm is healing, "Dulcita."

Heidi gave a half-smile.

As they gently stroked her head, the person continued, "I hate to see you get hurt. I hate to see you in pain. You're too pretty for that. I will always protect you. I will always take care of you."

The sweet words and the creepy tone in the person's voice did not sit well with Heidi.

"Please, take me home," Heidi protested, "I want to go home."

"Ok. Ok, but first, can I get a hug?"

"Ok."

Heidi hugged the person, but the person reciprocated with a tighter embrace. His hands explored her little back. The person turned their nose to the side of her head to smell her hair. Then the person gazed at Heidi again for a moment. Suddenly, the person leaned closer to Heidi and kissed her on her lips. Heidi quickly took a step back. Fear washed over her, and she began to run.

"Dulcita." "Dulcita," the person cried out, "Come back here!!!"

The person stood up and began to run after her. Heidi knew she had to keep running far away from this person. Otherwise, she would be in serious trouble. As the person continued to call her name, the tone of the person's voice changed from friendly to angry. Heidi was in fear for her life. When she thought that she lost the person, Heidi stopped running. Heidi thought that she was safe from harm. Little did she know that the dark figure crept behind her. Suddenly, a plastic bag went over Heidi's head, face, and neck. Heidi tried to claw the plastic bag off of her head. It was too slippery, and her nails were too stubby. Her fear grew. She thought her life was ending, but she kept fighting for her life.

Meanwhile, the perpetrator held the bag tighter and tighter. Heidi fell to her knees. Then she fell flat onto the ground. Her breathing became shorter and shorter.

Heidi sprung out of her sleep in a cold sweat. She was shaking with fear. She placed her hands all over her face, but there was nothing there. Heidi turned on the lamp on her nightstand. She kept taking slow, deep breaths. Heidi slowly got out of her bed, went into the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of water. After getting a glass of water, she sat at the kitchen table, thinking of the things "Dulcita" said to her. Fragments of the dream began to play in her head. For example, the mysterious person kept calling Heidi "Dulcita."

'Who was this person? The person sounded like a man. Why did this person call me "Dulcita,"' Heidi thought to herself?

After sitting at the table for ten minutes, Heidi went back to bed. At first, she was afraid to go to sleep because of the nightmare. All though she was fearful of going back to sleep. Eventually, her eyes were getting heavy. Later, that morning she woke from the sun's rays shining through her curtains. She thought about "Dulcita" and wondered if she'll ever see "Dulcita" again.

'I shouldn't have been mean to her. I have to find her. I have to know if she's ok,' Heidi thought, 'Then I'll pay Hector a visit.'

Later that day, when she went back to her old neighborhood, Heidi went into a local bodega. She heard the song "In My Eyes" played throughout the bodega. The song made her happy and at ease. She hummed along to the music. She looked around the store for some candy to give to her little friend. Then it occurred to her. The candy was at the counter. She walked to the counter, which was next to the entrance/exit. The store clerk recognized her immediately.

"Hey, you're Hilda and Santi's daughter, right," the store clerk asked?

"Yeah," Heidi verified, "How do you know my parents?"

"I knew your whole family. Your name is Hildi."

"Heidi."

"Right! Heidi! God is so good. I'll never forget the look of worry on your parents' faces that night. The whole neighborhood was worried about you."

"When was this?"

"It was years ago. You were missing that night. With the grace of God, Someone told your parents that you were in the hospital. You were badly injured, but you were still alive."

"Oh...right...I do remember that. I don't know anything before that, but I was happy to be alive. Anyway, I would like to get five lollipops and a pack of strawberry licorice, por favor."

"Ok."

Just when he was about to put the candy in the plastic bag, Heidi hollered, "No!"

The store clerk was shocked by her reaction.

"What? What's wrong," the clerk asked with deep concern?

"No plastic bag," she shouted, shaking nervously, "Please! No plastic bag! Get it away from me!"

"Ok. No problem. I'll put it in a small brown paper bag."

He placed the plastic bag under the counter. Heidi was still upset. He walked around the counter to comfort the young woman.

"Heidi, I'm so sorry for upsetting you. I didn't know. I swear I didn't know."

Heidi was still a little upset, but seeing the store clerk show concern made her feel at ease.

"I'm fine. Thank you," Heidi said, trying to compose herself.

"Are you sure you are going to be ok," the store clerk asked.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'll be ok."

After paying for the candy, she grabbed them and abruptly left the store. Before she went to look for "Dulcita," he stopped to call Don Hector on her cell phone.

"Hello," Don Hector answered.

"Hey, it's Heidi," Heidi replied.

"How are you, my dear?"

"Good. Good. I'm in the neighborhood, but first, I have to meet up with "Dulcita."

"Does she know the two of you are supposed to meet today?"

"No."

"Oh! I mean, oh. Maybe you could see her later unless it's important."

"No. Not really."

"Good. I would love to see you today."

"Ok, but I don't know your address."

Don Mauricio told her the directions to his home. Then they parted on the phone. The address was not familiar to Heidi. So she typed the address on her phone. Eventually, she was able to find it. Heidi took a deep breath and went inside the building. When she went into the elevator, the elevator door opened. Heidi boarded the elevator. She pressed the elevator button labeled "4." When the door closed, the elevator began to go up to the fourth floor.

Suddenly, Heidi heard a voice ask, "What do you think you are doing?"

Heidi turned to her left. There was "Dulcita."

"How did you get here," Heidi asked with awe?

"That's not important. The important thing is you're walking into danger. Don Mauricio is a pervert," the little girl said, "Please go home while you can."

"You're just saying because you don't like him."

She offered the little girl a lollipop.

"I don't want a stupid lollipop! I'm trying to save your life."

"Dulcita," you're a sweet little girl, but I'm a grown woman. I can take care of myself. Now, go home."

Heidi left the little girl in the elevator. Once again, the little girl was disappointed. Heidi rang Don Mauricio's doorbell. Don Mauricio looked through his peephole. When he saw it was Heidi, he was elated. Don Mauricio anxiously opened his door. Once he opened the door, he was stunned by the young woman's appearance. She looked like an angel standing at his threshold. Heidi, meanwhile, was anxious and excited. She saw a man who took care of himself very well. Don Mauricio stood in front of her, wearing nothing but a pair of navy blue pajama pants. He wanted her to see his well-built male form. He wanted her to desire him as much as he desired her.

"Well, hello, lovely lady," Don Mauricio greeted the young woman.

"Hi. Well, I made it," Heidi said.

"Yes, you did."

He guided Heidi into his apartment. Don Mauricio couldn't take his eyes off Heidi.

"What's wrong, Don Mauricio," Heidi asked?

"Absolutely nothing. You're a vision. Anyway, you can call me, Mauricio. I don't mind."

"Ok, Mauricio."

There was a short pause between them.

"Hey, do you want to go driving with me," Don Mauricio asked, breaking the silence between them?

"Sure."

"Ok. You can have a seat in the living room while I get ready."

"Ok."

"Are you thirsty or hungry?"

"No, thank you. I'm fine."

"Yes, you are."

Heidi sat on the sofa. She was nervous yet excited. She was in the home of a man revered by the community and who knew her and her family. Now, Heidi is about to go on a date with him. She couldn't believe, out of all the women in the neighborhood, Don Mauricio chose her. Heidi felt special.

'He must see something special in me,' Heidi thought to herself, 'I feel so important.'

She wanted to peak into his bedroom, but she thought that was not ladylike. Meanwhile, as Don Mauricio dressed for his date, all he could think about was fulfilling his sexual conquests with Heidi. When Don Mauricio finished changing his clothes, Heidi was impressed. He didn't look flashy, but he looked comfortable and well-put-together.

"Wow," Heidi said, "You look good, Mauricio."

"Thank you, pretty girl," Don Mauricio replied, graciously accepting the compliment, "I can't look like a bum. I'm going to be in the company of a beautiful girl."

Heidi laughed and blushed. When he put his hand out to Heidi, she took him by the hand and stood to her feet. Their hands never left each other until Don Mauricio unlocked the passenger door to his new Cadillac for Heidi. After helping her into his car, he went around the driver's side and got into the car. They had a friendly conversation while they went sightseeing around the city.

"Hey, do you like surprises," Don Mauricio asked?

"Sure. I love surprises," Heidi answered.

"Good. We want to take to a special place. We can hang out there."

The drive took twenty minutes. They drove through the neighborhood to a community center with a park as big as a football field. Don Mauricio pulled into the parking lot. He and Heidi got out of the car. After he locked the car, they walked hand and hand into the building.

"A community center? What's so fab about this place," she asked suspiciously?

"You'll see," he assured her.

They walked through the double doors and into the building. They walked down the long, wide corridor and out of the building. When they walked out of the building, they came upon a flight of steps. They walk down a flight of stairs and into a park. Fresh, green grass, pruned shrubbery, and tall trees made up the park.

"Wow, this is beautiful," Heidi said in awe.

"This is the only part of the park I want you to see," Don Mauricio explained, taking her by the hand.

Then they came upon the community center's flower garden. The flowers were in full bloom, giving off their fragrances. There were rose bushes of different colors, hyacinths, sunflowers, orchids, and other beautiful flowers.

"So, where's the surprise," Heidi asked?

"This is the surprise," Don Mauricio said.

"Oh. Wow! It's beautiful."

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah...I like it a lot."

"Would you like this?"

Don Mauricio pulled her close to him. Their tongues playfully wrestled with each passionate kiss. Their passion for each other reached higher and higher.

When he stopped kissing Heidi, he said, "Come with me."

"Where," Heidi asked?

He guided the young lady to a secluded place among the trees. Then, Don Mauricio pulled her close to him.

He said, "I want you so bad. You're so young, and tight, and firm."

His hands went under her dress, gently massaging the crouch of her panties.

"That's...That's...," Heidi said, trying to speak.

The sensation on her pussy was very tantalizing. Her panties were getting wet.

"I can feel your candy through your panties..." Dulcita," Don Mauricio whispered to Heidi seductively, in her ear, "I missed you. I missed you, baby."

Heidi quickly pushed him away from her.

She asked, "What did you say?"

"I miss you," he repeated, "I thought you were dead. I thought I lost you forever. I tried to find other girls to replace you, but they could never be you. You're one of a kind, and you came back to me."

"Did you...Did you call me, "Dulcita?"

"Yeah. What's wrong, "Dulcita?" Don't you want to be my special friend?"

'Why does that sound familiar to me,' she thought?

"I...I...I...," Heidi hesitated, trying to talk as he planted soft, supple kisses on her neck and ear.

His kisses were so soft; her eyes rolled back in her head. Her body felt weak. Then, she felt his two thick fingers go into the crotch of her panties.

"I want that cream filling," Don Mauricio whispered in Heidi's ear.

Then something happened in her psyche. Heidi realized "Dulcita" wasn't a random little girl from her old neighborhood. Heidi realized that she was "Dulcita." The clothes "Dulcita" wore were the same clothes Heidi wore in her dream. The nightmare she had the other night did happen. Heidi violently pushed the man off of her.

"What happened, "Dulcita?" Don't you want to be my special friend," Don Mauricio asked, reaching his arms out to her?

"Shut up!!!! Don't touch me," Heidi exclaimed angrily, backing away from him, "Don't come near me!!! You tried to molest me when I was a little girl!!!!"

Then another memory tapped into her psyche. Heidi placed her hands around her neck. She remembered plastic covering her neck and head.

"It was you. You," Heidi said with horror, backing farther away from Don Hector, "YOU TRIED TO KILL ME!!!"

Heidi began to run. Her memory was coming back to her.

"Dulcita," no," Don Hector cried out, "Come back here!!!"

Twenty-five years ago, that afternoon, Heidi was ten years old. Her hair was in a French braid with a purple ribbon. She wore a purple and pink striped shirt, with jeans rolled up on the cuff, which showed her bright lavender sneakers. Heidi was playing with her friends in the neighborhood playground. Her arm was still in a bandage. Don Mauricio walked up to the little girl.

"Hi, "Dulcita," Don Mauricio said flirtatiously to the little girl.

"Hi," Heidi replied.

"How's my pretty girl?"

"I'm good."

"How's your arm?"

"It's pretty good."

"Good. I have a little "Gell Well" gift for you."

"Really? What is it?"

Don Mauricio presented to Heidi a daisy. Heidi gasped with surprise.

"Wow! Thank you," Heidi said, taking the flower and sniffing its fragrance.

"I'm glad you like it. Would you like to see more flowers?"

"Yeah!"

"Let's go."

Don Mauricio took the little girl by the hand; they left the playground. Hand-and-hand, they went in his car to the garden. Heidi didn't have a care in the world. She thought a nice, respected man of the neighborhood was taking her to a flower garden. She was excited to see fresh, beautiful flowers. When they reached the garden, he helped "Dulcita" out of the car.

"Ok, "Dulcita," Don Mauricio started, "Close your eyes."

The little girl closed her eyes. They continued to walk, hand-in-hand to the garden, as he guided her. Heidi was excited. When they finally reached their destination, he told "Dulcita" to open her eyes. When she opened her eyes, "Dulcita" was in awe.

"Well, here we are," Don Mauricio said, softly caressing the little girl's hand, "It's so beautiful here, right?"

"Yeah, it's very pretty," Heidi agreed, pulling away from him to get a closer look at the flowers, "There are so many pretty flowers."

While the little girl observed the flowers, Don Mauricio walked close to her. He creepily watched the little girl innocently enjoying the garden. The sun was setting. Heidi realized it was getting late.

"I have to go home," Heidi said with concern, "My parents will be worried about me."

"It's ok, "Dulcita." They know you're with me. I promised them I would take care of you."

"Oh, ok."

Don Mauricio took Heidi's hand; he kept gently caressing it. The uninvited caress made Heidi feel uncomfortable. She pulled her hand away.

"What's wrong, "Dulcita," he asked, "Don't want to be my special friend?"

"Yes...," Heidi said hesitantly, "but I want to go home."

Bending down on his knees facing Heidi, Don Mauricio said, "You'll always be my "Dulcita. Do you know that?"

Heidi looked at the expression on his face. A weird feeling came over her.

Then he said, seemingly loving, "Please don't be mad at me. I just want to be friends, that's all. I would never hurt you. How is your arm?"

"My arm is ok," Heidi said shyly.

Don Mauricio gently takes her injured arm and gently caresses it. He looked deep into Heidi's eyes and said, "It's healing. Your arm is healing, "Dulcita."

Heidi gave a half-smile.

He continued, "I hate to see you get hurt. I hate to see you in pain. You're too pretty for that. I should have protected you on that day."

Don Mauricio put his head down to cry. Heidi did not know what to do.

He looked at her and said, "I swear I will always take care of you."

Don Mauricio's sweet words and creepy behavior made Heidi feel very comfortable.

"Please, take me home," Heidi protested, "I want to go home."

"Ok. Ok, but first, can I get a hug?"

"...O...ok."

Heidi hugged Don Mauricio; Don Mauricio reciprocated with a tighter embrace. As he held her, he turned his nose to the side of her head. Don Mauricio smelled her hair. Then he gazed into Heidi's eyes again. At this moment, Don Mauricio could not help himself. He leaned closer to Heidi and kissed her on her lips. Heidi quickly took a step back. Fear washed over her, and she began to run.

"Dulcita." "Dulcita," Don Mauricio cried out, "Come back here!!!"

Don Mauricio stood up and ran after the little girl. The tone of his voice changed from friendly to angry. Don Mauricio kept chasing Heidi. She was in fear for her life. Eventually, Heidi stopped running. There was no sign of Don Mauricio. She thought she was safe from harm. Suddenly, the plastic bag went over her head, face, and neck. Heidi tried to claw the plastic bag off of her. It was too slippery, and her nails were too stubby. Her fear grew. She knew her life was ending, but she fought for her life.

Meanwhile, Don Mauricio held the bag tighter and tighter. Trapped in the plastic prison, Heidi fell to her knees. Then she fell flat on the ground and laid perfectly still. When the perpetrator realized the little girl was no longer breathing, he fled the crime scene. Life left Heidi's body. The little girl's body was alone and discarded. Suddenly, about ten minutes later, she regained consciousness. She took a deep breath with the plastic bag still over her head and face. When Heidi realized she was in this plastic prison, she immediately wrestled the bag off her. Fearful for her life, she ran. However, by this time, it was nightfall. Heidi's fear grew into a panic. She knew her parents were worried about her, she was in a dark place, and someone was trying to kill her. She cried profusely, trying to find her way out of the garden. Then she saw the lights of a bodega across the street. She ran to the bodega, tears saturating her face, but a tall iron fence barricaded her inside the garden. Heidi grabbed the bars and rattled herself like a wild animal trapped in a cage.

Heidi hysterically cried and screamed, "Mami!! Papi!! Help!! Mami!! Papi!! Help!! Don Mauricio wants to kill me!!"

Suddenly, a young couple was walking next to the park. They heard a child screaming and crying.

"Baby, do you hear that," the girlfriend asked?

They walked a little closer a saw two small hands clutching to the iron bars.

"OH SHIT," exclaimed the boyfriend, "It's a little girl! She's trapped!!"

The couple ran to the distressed little girl.

"Are you ok, baby," the girlfriend asked, bending down to face the little girl, "Are you in trouble?? Are you hurt??"

"I want my mamí and papí," cried Heidi, "He's trying to kill me!"

"Who's trying to kill you," the girlfriend asked.

"He kissed me on my lips, and he wants to kill me."

The little girl couldn't say the person's name; she was hysterical.

"Everything is going to be fine, honey," said the girlfriend, comforting the little girl, "They're coming. I promise you."

"I'm going to get help. Stay with the little girl," the boyfriend told his girlfriend.

The man ran across the street to the nearest bodega.

"Sir," the boyfriend said, trying to catch his breath, "Call 911. Please! I need help!"

"¿Qué pasó," the store clerk asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"There's a little girl trapped in that garden across the street. She's hysterical. Please help her!!!"

"Why would you leave a little by herself??"

"My girlfriend is with her. Look, man! I need your help. There is a little girl trapped in the garden. She is crying hysterically."

"Hey, man," a man shouted, busting into the bodega, "There's a huge crowd across the street!"

"Ah fuck," the boyfriend exclaimed!

The boyfriend and the man ran across the street; the store clerk called 911. There was an enquiring crowd surrounding the iron bars. The boyfriend ran through the crowd, calling his girlfriend's name. When he finally reached his girlfriend, she was in tears.

"What the hell happened," the boyfriend with deep concern?

Through her tears, the girlfriend explained, "She kept screaming and crying until she fell to the ground."

"Do you mean...? Could she be...?"

"I DON'T KNOW!!!! SHE CLASPED IN FRONT OF MY EYES!!"

"Shit! SHIT," the boyfriend cried, crouching down to his girlfriend, "SOMEBODY HELP!!! Somebody help!!!"

The couple cried over the child. Their hearts broke from sadness. They did their best to get help for Heidi, but it was too late. Suddenly, another couple broke through the crowd, who were Heidi's parents, Hilda and Santiago Velazquez. They have been looking for their daughter for hours. Her parents screamed their daughter's name to get their attention, but there was no answer.

"Who are you? Do you know this little girl," the girlfriend asked through her tears.

"We're her parents," Hilda announced hysterically, "We've been looking all over the neighborhood for her."

"Dulcita! Dulcita," shouted Mr. Velasquez in a panic, "Lord, please don't take our baby. Don't make her your angel. Please!

Then he turned to the crowd and asked, "Did anyone call the police?"

The crowd said nothing. The grief suddenly turned to anger.

"Oh. I get it," Mr. Velasquez shouted to the crowd, "You only came to see a show. My daughter is not a fucken' show! She could be dead, and no one did anything. Fuck all you!!!"

His wife, Hilda, grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Santiago! Control yourself," Mrs. Velasquez said to her husband sternly, "We will get her out of there, but we have to do it, calm heads."

Suddenly, the police, ambulance, and firefighters broke through the crowd to get to the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Velasquez, and Heidi. The police kept the crowd at bay. The firefighters pried the iron bars with the Halligan Bar. Then, the paramedics gingerly carried the little girl out of the garden and onto a gurney. The paramedics placed Heidi into the ambulance and took her to the nearest hospital; her parents accompanied her.

Now, twenty-five years later, history is somewhat repeating itself. This time, Don Mauricio was not going to allow her to tell her story. His animal lust came back for Heidi, like years ago. He didn't care if she grew older. In his mind, she will always be that sweet, tender lamb who captured his heart. Don Mauricio chased after Heidi. She ran for her life, screaming and crying hysterically. She ran out of the garden and into the busy street. In the middle of her hysteria, Heidi was unaware of a car coming in her direction. The driver stopped too late. The collision was so strong; that she flew into the windshield of the vehicle. When the car finally stopped, she rolled off the car and onto the street. Her body lay lifeless.

Don Mauricio screamed in horror when he saw Heidi collide with the car. The driver and other passersby went to Heidi's aid, but Don Mauricio would not allow it.

"MOVE," Don Mauricio demanded, pushing everyone away from Heidi, "MOVE! GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER! MOVE AWAY FROM HER!"

He fell to his knees in front of Heidi's lifeless body.

"No. No. No. No," Don Mauricio said softly through his tears.

Don Mauricio gently brushed her hair away from her face with his giant hand. He cradled the young woman in his arms.

Through his tears, he continued to say softly, "No. No. No. No."

Suddenly, he let a colossal wail and cried, cradling the young woman in his arms. Everyone watched this spectacle in the middle of the street.

"My "Dulcita." My "Dulcita," Don Mauricio said through his tears, kissing Heidi on her injured face, "I'm so sorry, my "Dulcita." I wanted to love you, my baby girl. I wanted you to love me back, but I lost you. I've lost you forever. Now I have to find another little girl like you. Maybe they can be, but they won't be the same because they won't be like you, baby girl, but I guess this is my fate."

Heidi was in a state of unconsciousness; she was in a void between life and death.

"Hello...Hello...," Heidi shouted, "Where is everyone? Where am I?"

"Hello, Heidi," a little girl greeted.

"Who's there? Where are you? Show yourself!"

"It's me, Heidi. I represent the memory you couldn't remember. There was a blank space in your memory. I came to fill in that blank space. I'm you, and you're me."

"Yeah...I know now. I'm so sorry for not believing you."

"It's ok. We were always tenacious, but I wish you didn't discover the truth this way."

"Me too."

"We don't have time for long conversations. Time is of the essence."

"What do you mean?"

"We are in a space between life and death."

"How did we get here?? Wait. I was hit by a car because Don Mauricio was chasing me. The things Don Mauricio said to me helped me to remember the incident. Don Mauricio kissed me on my lips. He kissed me, a little girl, on our lips! He's been obsessing over me since my childhood. He looked at me as his lover when I was only ten years old. It didn't matter to him if I was too young. If I didn't resist, he would have taken his sick, sexual desire to another level."

"That's right."

"I wasn't going to let that happen. Don Mauricio wasn't going to take my innocence from me. I ran for my life."

"You sure did. You thought you ran far away from Don Mauricio, but Don Mauricio caught you. He suffocated you with a plastic bag. Then it was a fight for your life. The more you fought, the more you knew our life was ending, but you survived it. This time is no different. If you can survive Don Mauricio, twenty-five years ago, then you can survive him now. So come on, Heidi. We have the rest of our lives ahead of us."

"Yeah, let's do it."

Hours later, the Velazquez family waited anxiously at the hospital. They received disturbing news about Heidi in a car accident from a friend from the neighborhood. Then, the police notified her parents. Heidi's mother, Hilda Velazquez, rocked nervously back and forth in the chair with her rosary in her hands. She prayed softly to herself for her daughter's speedy recovery. Santiago Velazquez, Heidi's father, sat next to his wife. However, his left leg shook nervously. He was trying very hard to control his anger.

"I can't believe this. Someone, please tell me this is a nightmare. I can't take this shit," Mr. Velazquez said, abruptly leaping from his chair, "I'm going to look for that son-of-bitch and kick his ass."

Mrs. Velazquez asked, feeling deeply concerned for her husband, "What is wrong with you? What is fighting going to do for you?"

"I don't know, Hilda. I don't know if I should go after the speed demon or the pedophile. Fuck it! I'll kick both of their asses."

"What are you going to get out of that, Santi?"

"Satisfaction. Damn! I can't believe it. I was so dumb. I thought this pervert was a decent man. Adding insult to injury, my daughter gets hit by a random car trying to get away from him. That perverted piece of crap did all this, Hilda."

"We all trusted Mauricio! Look, there's nothing we can do. Becoming a vigilante is not going to solve our problem."

Mr. Velazquez tried to see his wife's reasoning, but he failed.

After a brief pause, he said, "...I'm going to get some air."

Mr. Velazquez stormed out of the waiting room and stormed out of the hospital.

Mrs. Velazquez shouted, "Santi! Santi!"

Meanwhile, Logan Velazquez, Heidi's brother, stood outside the emergency room entrance. He was chain-smoking. He saw his father storm through the exit.

"Papi? Papi," Logan cried out to his father!

Logan put out his cigarette and ran after his father.

"Papi, where are you going," Logan asked, gabbing his father's arm, "What about Heidi?"

Angrily ripping away from his son's grip, Mr. Velazquez said, "Let go of my arm, son."

"You can't leave Heidi like this. She needs us."

"Logan, I need you to stay with your mother. I have to handle some business."

"Papi, you can't go after the driver. He already said that he was sincerely sorry and would pay for the medical bill. What else do you want from him?"

"Ok. Ok. You're right. What about the other fuck? He wanted to have sex with a little girl, MY little girl! Mauricio wanted to have sex with MY "DULCITA!" I'm going to take a baseball bat to that bastard's head."

"I want to rip him apart too," Logan said, standing in front of his father, "He's the reason Heidi is in the hospital."

"That's my point. Now, I'm going to go and beat the shit out of this pervert."

"If you act upon your emotions, you'll end up in jail."

"It will be worth it."

"Is it worth losing your family? If you go after this guy, he wins. He wants you to lose everything because he has nothing. Don't give you that power, papi. Please."

Suddenly, a man walked up to them.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," the man started, flashing his badge to Mr. Velazquez and Logan, "I'm Detective Kiefer Gulliver. How are you gentlemen doing this evening?"

Logan said, "We're hanging in there, sir. Can we help you with something?"

The detective continued, "I'm looking for Mr. Santiago Velazquez."

"That's me," announced Mr. Velazquez, "What...What happened now? Did you arrest Mauricio? Has he been indicted?"

"We took him into custody," answered Detective Gulliver, "Right now, we're doing an investigation."

Meanwhile, in the emergency room, the doctor walked into the waiting room.

He announced, "Heidi Velazquez!"

Mrs. Velazquez sprung from her seat and ran to the doctor.

"Well...," Mrs. Velazquez asked anxiously, "How is she? Please tell me. Will, my daughter, be ok," Mr. Velazquez asked eagerly?

"At first, the surgery was touch and go, but Heidi is in stable condition," the doctor explained, "She suffered major injuries, but Heidi is a fighter. She will have to stay longer for a few more days for observation."

Mrs. Velazquez was relieved.

"God is good to us," Mrs. Velazquez said.

"She will have to undergo more tests. We want her to remain in stable condition," the doctor added.

"Doctor, can I see her," Mrs. Velazquez asked?

"Yes, but it has to be brief," the doctor insisted.

In the room labeled "276," Heidi laid motionless in a hospital bed. Her neck was in a brace; one of her arms had an I.V. adorn with scratches and bruises. Her other arm was in a cast, and both of her legs were in two bandaged casts. Sticky patches and wires from the Holter Monitor covered her injured chest. The bandages adorned her ribs. When Heidi slowly opened her eyes, she looked around the room. She realized she was at the hospital.

'Oh no,' Heidi thought to herself, 'Not again.'

This time, she remembered everything. Like years ago, she was in fear for her life.

'Don Mauricio's going to kill me. He wants to kill me,' Heidi thought with tears in her eyes, 'If Don Mauricio can't have me, no one can.'

Suddenly, the door opened. Heidi's fear increased rapidly. Heidi was relieved to see her mother, but she couldn't move or talk. The only thing she could do was cry.

"Baby, what's wrong," Mrs. Velazquez asked, with tears in her eyes, "Are you in pain? Do you need a nurse? I wish you could talk to me. Whatever it is, we will get through it. I promise."

Hours ago, a crowd circled and watched Don Mauricio cradling Heidi in his arms in the middle of the street. The driver stood by his car and called the police on his cell phone. Everyone was curious about the accident.

They asked, 'What happened?'...' Who was hit by the car?'...' Who is the man holding her?'

The situation was bizarre.

Don Mauricio said, overcome with grief, "I loved you since you were a little girl. I wanted you to be mine. That faithful day, you look so angelic. I couldn't help but kiss those sweet, tender lips."

He gently ran his fingertips against her lips. Meanwhile, the driver was by his vehicle. He was scared to go near Don Mauricio. Don Mauricio's words also froze him. He couldn't believe these things were coming out of Don Mauricio's mouth.

'Is this guy confessing to the fact that...he's a pedophile,' the driver thought?

He continued, "...but you ran away from me. I'm ashamed of myself for getting so upset with you. My rage killed you. My rage killed my "Dulcita!!!"

'Murder? Did this sicko try to kill her, when she was a little girl,' the driver suspected?

Don Mauricio continued to weep and rock the injured, young woman in his arms. He held her closer and tighter to his chest.

Through his tears, he said, "I tried to love other little girls who looked like you, but they weren't as sweet as you. You will always be my dream girl. You stole my heart, little one. For years, I forced myself to keep my love for you a secret by replacing you. People will never understand my love for you was pure, not perverse. Despite the prejudice, it never stopped me from loving you and wanting you. I've romanced many women. I wanted them to be you. I looked for you in them; I couldn't find you, baby. Then you came back to me. God sent my angel back to me. This time would be my second chance in proving my undying love to you, but I fucked up again. "Dulcita," you can't leave me again. Come back to me. Come back!!!"

Passers-by and spectators looked upon this bizarre spectacle of a grief-stricken man holding the "love of his life." Eventually, the policemen and the ambulance came to resolve the issue. They had to break through the crowd to get to Don Mauricio and Heidi. Before the police could get any closer, the driver rushed to the police and ambulance warning them about Don Mauricio.

"Look, man," He started, "You need to get him away from her. He's a killer and a pedophile."

"Sir, don't worry," the police assured the driver, "We have everything under control."

"Dude, I'm telling you. He's not right in the head."

"Sir, we will handle it!"

One of the police officers hid behind the ambulance's side in case the situation became violent. The police and the ambulance walked toward Don Mauricio and Heidi. He was inconsolable.

"Sir," one of the policemen said to Don Mauricio, "I'm going to ask you to step away from the young lady. This young lady needs medical attention. She has to go to the hospital immediately."

"No, you don't understand. Heidi is my "Dulcita." She needs me," Don Mauricio explained, "She's gone, but she'll come to me. She always comes back to me. I bandaged her arm when she was a little girl. It felt like I was mending my angel's broken wing."

"Yeah, but this is more severe. The professionals can take care of her. Leave it up to the professionals,"

"The professionals???? You stay the fuck away from her!!! She is my "Dulcita!!" No one is taking my "Dulcita" from me!!! Do you think I can't take care of her????? You don't know "Dulcita" the way I remember her!! We should be together!! I can't lose my "Dulcita."

The police realized they were dealing with a person who was out of touch with reality.

"Sir, we understand you're distraught. All we want to do is help you to help your wife or girlfriend get better. We want to take care of both of you. We only want the best for both of you. The ambulance is here to take her to the hospital. They have doctors and nurses who will take good care of her. However, if you refuse her the proper care, we're going to detain you."

"Do you see, baby? They are trying to tear us apart. They don't understand our love; they don't understand my love for you. Baby, you have to come back to me."

"Sir, we're going to have to take you into custody."

"GO FUCK YOURSELF, COPPER!!!!! She is my baby!!! She is my "Dulcita!!!" You're not taking my "Dulcita" from me!!!! You will never understand our love. She's always my little angel."

This negotiation persisted for over two hours. Suddenly, Don Mauricio felt a massive shock from the side of his neck; a police officer tased him. Don Mauricio's body went limp. He lost his grip on the young woman. One of the EMTs caught the woman before her head hit the concrete. He carried her onto the gurney, and secure her on the stretcher. The EMTs rolled her onto the ambulance and took her to the hospital.

A few years later, the doctor and the nurse conversed about the new patient in front of Room 126.

"How is our new patient," the doctor asked?

"In the beginning, it was a rough start," the nurse stated, "...but give our new patient some time to get used to it here. Pretty soon, they'll be part of the family."

Inside the padded walls of Room 126, the walls the only furniture was a bed heavily bolted to the floor. However, the patient wasn't there. The patient, Don Mauricio, sat in the corner of the room. He was heavily sedated, in a straitjacket.

Don Mauricio said softly, heavily drugged, "Dulcita...Dulcita, come back to me. Dulcita, you're the one I love. You're the one I need; you're my saving grace. Come to me, Dulcita. Come back to me, Dulcita. Save me from my loneliness."

Then Don Mauricio looked between his legs. He noticed his erection.

"No...No...My "Dulcita" is not here," he said with despair, "I need my "Dulcita" to make me feel good. I can't feel right without the love of my life. "Dulcita!!!" "Dulcita!!!!"

Don Mauricio spent the rest of his existence in the asylum. It didn't take long for the neighborhood to discover that their "good guy" was a pedophile. As for Heidi, she was able to solve the "blank" in her life. Finding the answer made her face the ugly truth that almost cost her life again. However, the answer or unresolved childhood trauma became Heidi's salvation. Although the monster was in his cage, Heidi must face another journey to healing. It will be a rough journey, but she didn't face it alone with her family and friends' love and support. This is the Pink Foxxx Hole.