Free She Had No Choice by Debra Burroughs Page B

rented a room. They left in an old pickup truck for Florida, and Sofía did not think of them again. She had more important things on her mind. The baby inside her continued to grow and time to give birth was upon her. It was 1932. Olivia had arranged for a midwife to help with the birth at her home. Sofía’s labor was short, her baby was anxious to come into the world. The contractions became increasingly close together and their intensity grew as her labor progressed quickly.  She screamed out in pain as she gave the final push.
    Before long she was holding her new baby in her arms. It was a girl, a sweet pink baby girl with a few wisps of dark hair on her head. A flood of emotions washed over her in waves – first love, then fear, then excitement, then protectiveness, and more love.
    Sofía liked that new baby smell. Holding the baby close to her, she breathed in her sweetness. Bathing her gently, she then wrapped her new daughter in fresh linens that Olivia supplied. Sofía was determined to enjoy every moment of caring for her first baby. This child was an innocent, not responsible for how she came into this world. Sofía intended to lavish on her baby the only thing she had to offer, her love.
    She named her tiny daughter Eva Sofía Ramirez. She was committed to doing whatever she had to do to provide for her. Baby Eva was completely and utterly dependent on her mother, and Sofía accepted the challenge, mustering every ounce of courage she possessed. She recognized that this little baby needed her mother to be strong, and Sofía resolved to do whatever she could to never disappoint her daughter.
    Olivia did her best to make Sofía and little Eva comfortable in her mother’s old bedroom. Roberto brought in a small cradle Olivia had borrowed from a friend. Sofía was very thankful for all the help and the love Olivia and Roberto provided. She decided she would not think of moving out of Olivia’s house that day. On that very special day, she would only spend it enjoying her first child.
    A few days after Sofía gave birth to Eva, Rosa came to see her. Olivia led her into the parlor where Sofía was caring for her infant, and then excused herself. Sofía and Rosa sat for awhile and visited, while Rosa held the baby and rocked her gently in the hand-carved wooden rocking chair.
    “ Have you decided what you’re going to do now?” Rosa asked quietly, trying not to awaken the baby.
    “ No. I have no idea. I need money, and I need somewhere to live. Cousin Olivia has been very kind to me, but I can’t stay here after she gets married next month. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
    “ I wish I had an answer for you, my friend,” Rosa replied, continuing her rocking motion.
    They visited for an hour or so, and the time came for Rosa to leave for work. Sofía walked her to the front door and thanked her for coming. Rosa kissed the baby on the head and gave Sofía a quick hug.
    “ I’ll come back in a few days to see you again, Sofía,” she said, as she slipped out the door.
    Day after day, Sofía tried to think through her situation, but no solution came to her. She knew how to work hard, but it would take more than that. What opportunities would there be for her, a single woman with a baby to care for?
    She spent the next few days agonizing about her impending circumstances, trying to come up with an answer. Time was running out and she was feeling desperate. Sofía was rocking little Eva in the rocking chair when there was a light knock at the door. She was home by herself, so she got up slowly from the chair, trying not to wake Eva. With the baby snuggled in her arms, she went to see who was at the door.
    “ Hi, Sofía. I told you I’d be back in a few days to visit you again.” It was Rosa. But she had not come alone. Her brother, Carlos, was with her this time.
    “ Come in, come in.” Sofía said in a quiet but excited voice. She was always happy to see her friend, and now she brought her brother