This story was originally published in Day One, a weekly literary journal dedicated to short fiction and poetry from emerging writers.
Every now and then, his sweetheart, Rosa, would show Paqo her bruises from the beatings. But every time she did, she’d just shrug off his angry response and defend her abusive deadbeat dad.
One day, Paqo takes Rosa and his younger brother, Yamil, on a mysterious trek through the mountains outside their village. Deep in the woods, at an abandoned house, he finds what he’s looking for: a gun.
When they return home, Rosa’s father unleashes a horrific, violent outburst—and this time Paqo is there to witness it. Now, with his rage sparked and a deadly weapon in his possession, a terrible possibility emerges—and the staying power of love is tested.