The second place

An old house, large grounds surround it. The dogs stir at the sound of people passing. Inside, silence, half-light.

The housekeeper, by the window, talks to herself: What am I doing sitting here, lost in this house where I arrived at 16, from the countryside, with a little bundle of clothes, dreaming of the big city? How time flies! Life goes by. First the children, school, high school, university. Every triumph of theirs was mine, I rejoiced as if they were my own children. I forgot to live my own life.

I remember the delivery boy from the little market, who went out of his way to please me, how many times I turned down his invitations. "You're going to end up an old maid," he'd tell me, and I laughed, amused by the phrase. Then don Enrique's friend (my employer), an older man, serious, well-off. The lady would tell me: look, he's a good match, don't let him go. I thought about the children, about everything I'd have to leave behind, and I couldn't make up my mind. "You'll have your own children," they told me, but no, no. What was it that tied me to this big old house? Why was I afraid to change my life? Cowardice, insecurity, lack of confidence, all of that and much more.

The children got married, what joy! The grandchildren came and I was always there, unconditionally faithful. Then the terrible part, Mrs. Amelia's illness, her agony, her death, and I was there, giving her affection, understanding, and help. Now, after 2 years, here I am asking myself: what do I do? Don Enrique proposed marriage to me and I realize I spent my life chasing an impossible love, and that today it could become real, but I'm afraid, so afraid. What if the children take it badly and think I'm usurping a place that isn't mine, one that I know I earned but they don't.

They always told me: you're a second mother to us. But everything that comes second has no value. How much longer will I be second in life? Today I'm going to take my place, the one that's rightfully mine. She sighed, stood up, threw open all the windows and turned on all the lights.