Four Years After COVID, Cancel Culture Returns
Kenya’s President Ruto Defies His Own Country’s Constitution and High Court to Invade Haiti
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor 29 May 2024
Originally published in Black Agenda Report
I spoke to William Sakawa, a producer and reporter with the Nairobi-based media outlet African Stream, about Kenyan President William Ruto’s agreement to invade Haiti for the US.
ANN GARRISON: Why do you think the Kenyan government is willing to send 1000 Kenyan police to Haiti, another Black nation in the developing world?
WILLIAM SAKAWA: I think the government feels so bold as to do something so clearly traitorous because Kenya has always been a colony. It has never really attained independence. Since the time of the handover in 1963, we have remained dependent on institutions like the World Bank and the IMF. So our government has always leaned West and eagerly executed Western agendas.
An example is the 1978 incident in which Kenya served as a launchpad for the Israeli operation in Uganda to go on the offensive against Idi Amin, in what was framed as an attempt to free Israeli hostages. Kenya was used for that.
At the same time, Israel was supporting apartheid in South Africa, and the majority of the African Union condemned that. Only a few countries like Kenya and Malawi maintained a semblance of relations with both Israel and South Africa. That was during the President Jomo Kenyatta era, from 1964 to 1978, then the President Daniel arap Moi era, from 1978 to 2002.
Mwai Kibaki became president from 2002 to 2013, then Uhuru Kenyatta from 2013 to 2022. When Ruto was elected nothing much changed. Corruption remained endemic, and I think this explains a lot, though you don’t see it highlighted in Western media, because Kenya is a Western ally. Same thing with Ukraine. I think this corruption creates a pressure point for Western nations. Our leaders store their ill-gotten wealth in the West, in property, tax havens, and so forth, and it could all be sanctioned and seized if they didn’t do what the West wants. The same is true of a lot of African leaders.
Also, our president now, William Ruto, is one of six guys who were sent to stand trial at the ICC for crimes committed during the political violence of 2007-2008, but his case was dismissed in 2016. His lawyer, Karim Khan, became the ICC prosecutor in 2021, and I think the convenience around all this is just too stark. It looks to me as though, in exchange for what was a good deal for him, Ruto agreed to serve the Western agenda and ultimately pledged 1000 Kenyan police to Haiti.
Kenya has not invested in the education of its people enough for them to understand or care about this deployment to Haiti. Most of them are disengaged and just trying to survive; they don’t participate in Kenyan foreign policy. The centuries of suffering of the Haitian people at the hands of their Western oppressors don’t register with them. There’s just a tiny but growing minority, including those of us at African Stream, who are concerned and outspoken about this.
AG: Sounds like the US, where most people are disengaged and unconcerned with this deployment as well.
WS: With our disengaged public, Kenya doesn’t have a coherent foreign policy based on principle. It’s much more transactional, and this deployment to Haiti is one more transaction with the West.
They’ve made a deal with Ruto and called it a Pan-African affair. And Ruto is of course eager to call it Pan-Africanism when it’s obviously the exact opposite.
I think the original intervention budget was nearly $250 million, and now it’s more. This is to pay for the deployment, but the majority of it is administrative cost , which will no doubt make it into the pockets of the elites, including William Ruto’s. How do you think Uhuru Kenyatta became a near billionaire? It wasn’t because he founded a hugely profitable business.
AG: This week Haitian Americans demonstrated outside the Kenyan Embassy in the US chanting “Still a Slave” in reference to Ruto. Do the tiny minority who oppose the deployment visibly protest there in Kenya?
WS: Protest of foreign policy is not something that happens here, not only because the population is disengaged, but also because it’s not safe. Our constitution guarantees freedom of assembly, but that doesn’t mean it’s a reality, and Kenyan police are very brutal. I think that’s one reason they’ve been chosen for this deployment.
AG: I know the story of Dr. Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad, who was kidnapped off the streets in Nairobi, held in captivity for 10 days, then unceremoniously dumped back on the streets.
WS: Yes, that’s an example of how Kenyan police operate beyond the law with impunity.
AG: What about the High Court of Kenya, which ruled in January that the deployment to Haiti violated the Kenyan Constitution? Isn’t President Ruto violating the court’s ruling?
WS: Yes, but no one will do anything about that.
AG: So the apparatus of force will not uphold the law if the executive refuses to?
WS: That’s right. Like you, we have three branches of government—the executive, legislative, and judiciary—but in fact the executive holds most of the power.
AG: So Ruto is just blowing off your Constitution and High Court to deploy these troops to Haiti?
WS: Yes.
AG: While the US lauds Kenya as a tranquil bastion of liberal democracy.
WS: Exactly. And Kenya’s subservience is especially important to the West now that it’s being kicked out of the Sahel nations.
AG: Hasn’t Kenyan politician Ekuru Aukot gone to court to demand that the ruling be respected? He’s told the press that the agreement between President Ruto and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry was invalid, and Ariel Henry isn’t even the prime minister anymore.
WS: Ekuru Aukot can go to court all he wants, and that will at least generate headlines, educate, and make his point, but ultimately Ruto will ignore the results and do what he wants. He and the US have made too great an investment in this to back down, and neither have a political constituency that will force them to.
Kenyan police will go to Haiti, and if the violence leads to some coming home in body bags, Ruto will describe them as heroes who died for a Pan-African cause.
AG: Isn’t there some complaint that Kenya has problems at home, particularly in its northern districts, that its police should address before going overseas? I believe that a reporter for your leading television outlet questioned Ruto about this at a press conference while he was here.
Kenya’s Journalist Ayub Abdikadir Asks Joe Biden & Ruto tough Questions on Haiti in USA!!
WS: That’s true, and there are problems in the northern district that Ekuru Aukot hails from, but in the end, again, Ruto and the US will both do what they want.
AG: Those Kenyan police will get paid a lot more serving in this US-led force in Haiti than they could get paid at home. This same has been true of African troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan or who now serve with AFRICOM or in various “peacekeeping” deployments, like those in Somalia, which include Kenyans, or like the Rwandan deployment to protect TotalEnergies’ interests in Mozambique. Isn’t this likely to create a self-interested constituency in support of the deployment, as it has in these other instances?
WS: That’s quite likely.
AG: Has African Stream been in touch with the resistance on the ground in Haiti?
WS: Yes, we interviewed grassroots organizers with MOLEGHAF , the National Movement for Liberty and Equality of Haitians for Fraternity, and we are staying in touch. The main thing we can do right now is to keep talking about this so that it doesn’t all take place in darkness.
AG: William, thank you for speaking to Black Agenda Report.
WS: You’re welcome.
William Sakawa is a producer and reporter for the Nairobi-based media outlet African Stream.
Ann Garrison is a Black Agenda Report Contributing Editor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2014, she received the Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza Democracy and Peace Prize for her reporting on conflict in the African Great Lakes region. She can be reached at ann@anngarrison.com. You can help support her work on Patreon .
Links:
Kenya’s President Ruto Defies His Own Country’s Constitution and High Court to Invade Haiti
MUTUNGA: Impending departure of Kenyan police forces to Haiti
A King In New York-Charlie Chaplin
Full Documentary with Jim Jarmusch
With A King in New York Charles Chaplin was the first film-maker to dare to expose, through satire and ridicule, the paranoia and political intolerance which overtook the United States in the Cold War years of the 1940s and 50s.
Chaplin himself had bitter personal experience of the American malaise of that time. The right wing and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had seen him as an ideal target – a foreigner who had never taken American citizenship, and whose work had a natural appeal to the humanists and radical intellectuals, now regarded as enemies of society. By the late 1940s the political and personal attacks on Chaplin became so acute that in 1952 he was happy to be forced into the decision to leave America forever, and make his home in Europe.
The story is set in New York, but Chaplin was obliged to use London locations, which are often less than convincing. …. In his satirical view of America, Chaplin takes on too many targets – wide screen movies, television commercials, cosmetic surgery, social pretension.
Here, the ultimate victim is the small boy Rupert Macabee robbed of his self-respect when the Un-American Activities Committee investigators trick him into “naming names”, betraying the political affiliations of his parents’ friends……. In A King in New York the child suffers something far worse – his honor, his conscience and his soul are abused.
Michael Chaplin as Rupert Macabee
https://www.charliechaplin.com/en/films/10-A-King-in-New-York
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One of the strangest things that I hear from folks these days who seem to believe that I have a problem with living in the US, is this, “If you don’t like it here, then leave, go back to Africa or some other Socialist Country.”
I say to them.
My response, “can all those folks who told me to leave the US, pay for my airline ticket to Ghana?”
So let’s first start with the definition of Socialism.
Definition of socialism
1: any of a various economic and political theories advocating collective or any of governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.
Too bad we have people living in the United States who are unaware of the way their country operates. There are so many governmental fingers in every aspect of the production and distribution of goods. Particularly as it relates to rules and regulations to the point where the government can confiscate your business, regulate your business, demand you get a business license, shut your business down, deny you access to trading with other businesses, foreign and domestic, prevent you from competing in certain markets, force you to comply to governmental regulations in the manner you handle your business, or prevent you from even establishing a business at all, due to the many laws, regulations, codes, and fines that a person may incur. In the US the energy services are provided by big corporations who become monopolies over time, squeezing out the small guy. If this country was ever purely capitalist, that has certainly changed over the past hundred years.
2a :a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
Is there really any private property in this country? How can that be when there is the concept of Imminent Domain and Asset forfeiture? In other words, if the city, state or federal government decides to run a highway through your neighborhood, you can no longer claim a hold on your property as the government own the ground your property sits on, and the bank owns the mortgage.
So let’s look at this concept of Eminent Domain.
“Federal, state, and local governments may take private property through their power of eminent domain or may regulate it by exercising their Police Power. The Fifth Amendment
to the U.S. to the U. S. Constitution requires the government to provide just compensation to the owner of the private property to be taken. A variety of property rights are subject to eminent domain, such as air, water and land-rights. the government takes Private property through condemnation proceedings. Throughout these proceedings, the property owner has the right of due process.”
“Asset forfeiture or asset seizure is a form of confiscation of assets by the state. It typically applies to the alleged proceeds or instruments of crime. This applies, but is not limited, to terrorist activities, drug related crimes, and other criminal and even civil offenses. Some jurisdictions specifically use the term “confiscation” instead of forfeiture. The alleged purpose of asset forfeiture is to disrupt criminal activity by confiscating assets that potentially could have been beneficial to the individual or organization.”
In other words, whenever the state which is government, decides to seize an individuals assets they have the right to do so based on their conclusions that they are within their right to do so. So out the window goes the notion of “private property” and a nicely veiled socialistic policy conscripted within the laws of this nation.
We can also take a look at the IRS which is a governmental agency that has the right to “seize” the product of a citizen of the US’s labor through taxation. In other words, your earnings, or assets, are not totally yours but are taken from you without your consent.
b :a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
This is a hot topic for many especially with Google, YouTube, Facebook who on their face appear to be “private” companies but have the right to determine, in collusion with the government, what is real news and safe to allow on their platforms. If these entities were truly free, they would not have to comply for fear of facing any penalties, loss of revenues or pressure from governmental agencies, lobbyists and the like.
We also have the FCC which regulates what comes over the airwaves via radio and television broadcasting. They spend a great deal of time determining and re-determining what is fit to air and what is not according to governmental regulations. Thus we have government regulations effecting the means of production, making government in effect, in control of production.
At the risk of making this part of the video too long, I simply ask citizens of the United States to take a good hard look at how their government runs their lives and then make a honest determination if this is or is not ALREADY a socialist country.
Man, 50 years ago, black folks may have been insulted when they told our parents to go back to Africa, where you came from. Heck, I heard that when I was a little girl in Catholic School, but honestly, nowadays, all we need is an airline ticket. And Ghana ain’t too expensive to live there. One USD is = to approximately 5 of theirs mas o menos. They are very hospitable, will feed you before they feed themselves, they love Americans, and as long as you are humble and respectful, they will let you stay with them. They are wonderful people. But my first choice of all time is getting off this Godforsaken planet altogether, but Scottie ain’t been gettin my messages. These folks don’t know, they ain’t saying nothing slick, telling me to get out the country! They ain’t hurt none of my feelings.
The other thing I don’t understand about this mentality, is why does leaving the US have to even be an option?
If folks are not happy here, how will leaving make things better? or make “you” happier, or maybe make “them” happier? I’m confused.
I mean, I don’t like living here for a lot of reasons, but there are some folks who live here who don’t like it and want to change it. Bless their little fatally optimistic hearts.
So leaving is simply not an option for them, they want to change it!
Telling someone to leave as an answer to someone’s discontent about how things are ran here, just tells me that this person doesn’t want things to change, at least not while things are going in their favor.
But one day, they too may become discontent. Will leaving be an option for them? Funny thing is, where would they go? They’re so stubborn about being an American, where would they go??
Bottom-line; we are all in the same boat, I don’t know how many of us are of pure blood. White folks have mixed blood to, from various different heritages, so which one would they choose, and there are some of them that, just like black folks, don’t even know where their ancestors came from passed their lineage going back to the settlers.
Colin Kaepernick’s Protest Shows Concern For “Legitimate Issues” and he wants to kneel during the playing of the National Anthem. His supporters who share his concerns want to kneel too. Folks are angry, up in arms calling him and others “son of bitches” all in the same breath calling themselves Christian. And I wonder how many of them stand in their viewing rooms at home? Not to mention the number of folks who are in the stands and don’t stand during the National Anthem. Besides, is it in his contract that he should stand for the pledge of allegiance?
These people are so hyped about him not complying and standing but they claim that they don’t worship Idols, but isn’t pledging allegiance to a flag, Idol worship, particularly if folks are willing to die for the flag. What does it symbolize to them if not something they have given honor, respect, admiration, recitation, saluting, folding in a certain way, reverence, etc….. They don’t give that much reverence to their churches. These Christians also rally around statues, hoist their flags on Holidays, and then go to Church on Sundays where the preacher preaches against idolatry, magic, witchcraft and soothsaying.
So, let’s look at the definition of “idol”
“an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.
synonyms: icon, representation of a god, image, effigy, statue, figure, figurine, fetish, totem; a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered. synonyms: hero, heroine, star, superstar, icon, celebrity.”
Your Christian God says set no thing beside me, that includes all of the above. Therefore, my question is, are you a Christian? then what’s with the idolatry? Flag, statues, etc. And dying for one?? yeah that sounds like idolatry to me.
Then a Patriot says in defense of this, what I call “idol worship”,
“And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him. -Mark 12:17 KJV”
And my response to this is,
“Excuse me? Caesar? the brutal-dictator? Didn’t he have something to do with getting Jesus Killed? I have no respect for that man. How can anyone who claims to be a Christian? What about morals? If government says give me all your guns, are you gonna render them too?”
There must be some serious cognitive dissonance going on here, when these people speak so highly of a flag, die for it, honor it, and at the same time say it is not idol worship. The flag is a symbol, it’s an idol, it’s an effigy, it represents something that is behind it, it has power to illicit tears and battle cries, it has had songs written for and about it. It sails on all governmental buildings in the US. There are laws against the desecration of it. It must never hit the ground, and when a famous government official dies, it flies at half mast. I mean what else can it be but an idol??
Then they say, we stand because of the men and women who fought for our freedoms in this country. And I’m like what freedoms? The men and women defending this country have been duped, they are protecting opium and oil fields and the petro dollar. They are slaves who have been brainwashed. The argument is mute, if you say freedoms are not granted by governments, they are given by God, then how can anyone take them away and why do you need to fight for them? I’m confused.
“Who the frick and frack dies for a flag?”
And those poor soldiers are not protecting my freedoms either. The cause they are dying for is far from noble.
No one can grant me freedoms!
No one has that kind of power over my life. I need no Constitution to grant me anything. If the Constitution can grant something then it can take it away. That’s too much power for anyone to have over another, unless they are Almighty God. They’re not, just government.
Besides, if freedom is so free why are there so many laws? You gotta have a license to do just about anything in this country, fish, hunt, swim, marry, divorce, teach, practice medicine, law, social work, cook, clean, deliver the mail, drive, be an electrician, plumber, carpenter..etc., how is that freedom?
Don’t folks realize that what we have here are considered privileges and that they can be taken away at anytime? Besides, those soldiers, at a rate of 20 or so per day, are killing themselves, for a lie, or should I say many lies.
This and much more should make everyone take to their knees.
The idea that I want to stay here under this intolerable regime is laughable to me, as they think they are insulting me or threatening me by telling me to “Go Back to Your Homeland” and let me keep mine.
I just don’t get it, how in the world did they come to that conclusion that this country is their homeland, or better yet, that it is more their homeland than mine.
So that’s why I say, give me an airline ticket and I will be out of your hair in a heart beat!! For sure.
And while we are on the subject of Colin Kaepernick let’s take a look at this recent article in Atlanta Black Star entitled
“
“Why Jesse Williams Calling National Anthem a ‘Scam’ Isn’t Too Far Fetched”
Count Jesse Williams as one of the proponents of protesting the national anthem at sporting events. The political activist and actor spilled some truths about the long-time tradition that could blow the minds of self-proclaimed patriots. As it turns out, those boycotting the NFL over athletes kneeling during the anthem may want to read up on where that tradition came from to begin with.
“It’s important to realize that this anthem thing is a scam,” Williams says on “MSNBC Live” Sunday, Sept. 24. “This is not actually part of football. This was invented in 2009 [by] the government paying the NFL to market military recruitment to get more people to go off and fight wars to die. This has nothing to do with [the] NFL, or American pastime, or tradition. This is to get boys and girls to go fly overseas and go kill people. They’re marketing. They’re pumping millions and millions of dollars into the NFL to get us to put on a pageant in front of the NFL football games to get you to go off and fight.”
Williams is referring to a 2015 Senate report that detailed the Department of Defense spent $53 million “on marketing and advertising contracts with sports teams between 2012 and 2015.” A huge chunk of that money — $10 million — went toward the NFL. Contracts for “paid patriotism,” as the report referred to the findings, called for national anthem performances, field-sized American flags, on-field color guards and tributes to wounded war heroes. The DOD admitted that the contracts were meant for recruitment, but didn’t indicate how the activities impacted recruitment.
“Given the immense sacrifices made by our service members, it seems more appropriate that any organization with a genuine interest in honoring them, and deriving public credit as a result, should do so at its own expense and not at that of the American taxpayer,” the report said. “Americans deserve the ability to assume that tributes for our men and women in military uniform are genuine displays of national pride, which many are, rather than taxpayer-funded DOD marketing gimmicks.”
This divide and conquer strategy that is in full swing is so ridiculous and counter productive.
We are all crabs in this here barrel, and they don’t care about none of us.
“The present system of production is self-destructive; the present course of human civilization is suicidal”
Reprinted with permission from Frank Scott.
The increasing threats posed by capitalist economics that bring luxurious splendor to some only by creating grotesque misery for others have increased to become immediate rather than long-term problems for all of us and not just some of us. The present mass murders taking place in Israel and Ukraine are immediate problems for tens of millions but the profit seeking assault on all of nature puts all humans in terrible jeopardy. Cataclysmic capital’s reduction of the planet to domination by a pro-profit anti-community west under control of the USA since the end of world war two is coming to a close. This is a situation that can bring a rebirth of humanity, a multipolar world out from under the deadly weight of imperial rules enforced by a uni-polar minority claiming a form of master race status while reducing the majority to peonage for most while a relative handful live in luxury and a large group of its servants enjoy physical if not mental comfort. But it can lead to an immediate, complete and total destruction of the human race in a nuclear holocaust provoked by western leadership that even brain transplants might not help, or a longer range breakdown of humanity’s support system of origin: nature itself.
The present crisis brought on by Israel’s long theft and domination of Palestine to supposedly atone for the dreadful German assault on European Jews by totally demolishing Palestinian society that had absolutely nothing to do with past euro-Jewish suffering which has seen – for the first time – a bloody retaliatory assault on Israeli citizenry such as has been performed on Palestinians since the birth of a stolen nation. This has led to the most blatant attack not only on the bodies of the people in the region but on the consciousness of those who have been kept blessedly ignorant of material conditions and are now having their minds raped by western propaganda which in the present labels everything and anything as fascist or communist or racist for simply demanding equality among all and ending the supremacy of some of the most morally degenerate leaders in all history.
While U.S. taxpayers are lulled into a belief that a bastardized form of market democracy in which those with the greatest buying power rule awards us some form of superiority over other humans, we are paying billions to kill Russians in alleged defense of the Ukraine and billions more to sustain Israeli apartheid rule in Palestine. Greater numbers of citizens than ever before, though still a minority in America, are protesting the bastardization of language, politics and economics that can call mass murder by anything but its name. Thus we have “genocide” and “war crime” label-synonyms attached to the reality of mass murder, long a profit-making endeavor for imperial capitalist America, which covers its crimes with occasional contributions to the well being of suffering children after having murdered their parents.
The capitalist Empire’s mask must be torn off. Without it, the monster will be seen for what it is.
Authority and its subjects struggle to attempt balance between mass murder and mass mind control when both must be overcome to bring about any hope for the full flowering of humanity and the achievement of peace, social justice and better lives for all and not just favored-by- themselves minorities which trust in biblical fable and mass murderous military power to act as humans supposedly chosen by deities to reign over all of nature.
Race is only one of the lies leading to separation of humans who originated in primitive communistic tribes of hunter-gatherers who shared and cooperated in order to survive, which is what we must relearn in order to have a future. When the hunt was successful all shared in the meat and when not they shared what was gathered. After millennia we advanced (?) to a system which transformed earth into real estate while bringing about wonderful material reality for some but only while destroying lives and other aspects of nature for many more. Just as slavery was great for many but dreadful for most, present day capitalism has advanced the life styles of millions but only by reducing billions to poverty, bigotry, social injustice and worse.
The present explosion in Israel with Palestinians dying by margins of ten to one after they murdered Israelis in number for the first time has seen a reaction globally and especially in America of opposition carefully stated as being against all violence but especially reacting to the bigoted savagery Palestinians have been forced to endure since 1948 when they lost their homeland and lives due to European savagery which they had nothing to do with by any stretch of idiocy or bigotry.
The present butchering of Palestinians is only the latest outrage rationalized as necessary to stop lower human forms of allegedly weaker races from being allowed to act as equals and achieve freedom said to be the sole possession of those who bless themselves with holiness while cursing the world with mass murder. The racial basis for most of this brutality is among the biggest lies perpetuated by supposed superior beings to rationalize all forms of human degradation made excusable by supposed children of gods in all their forms.
The solution to racism is to end the evil stupidity that socially creates it and face reality. There is only one human race. Rulers, especially capitalists, create divisions among people in order to create profits and prevent democracy, but it is long past time to wake up and smell the bullshit. There is no tall race or short race or yellow race or white race but only ruling powers that have forced those thoughts into captive minds to keep humanity unaware of our racial unity. All people are people of color and only a tiny group of us – albinos – have no Melanin and thus lack any color. Out of more than 8 billion humans there are some 200 thousand albinos and they are also human, suffering serious disabilities but still very much humans like all of us. Our sometimes broad differences are national, linguistic and ethnic but all of us share the need for food, clothing and shelter, no matter our skin tones, languages, cultures or reproductive organs. The class divisions that allow some to lavish in privilege while serving rulers are the serious divisions that must be overcome but racial differences are about as real as the Easter bunny, Santa Claus and all the other myths like poisoned vaccines and secret plots by one or another race that make as much sense as picking your nose to perform a self lobotomy.
If the hundreds of billions spent on mass murder rationalized as war and only seen as a degenerate social reality when performers do not murder in the proper form their rulers dictate so they, the rulers, can continue feeling superior while counting profits, were used for humanity’s sake, peace, social justice, equality and all the things most humans wish for could be reality. The present human nightmare as living reality will continue until and unless there is a mass awakening among a global and not just a national majority that cooperation for public good is absolutely necessary for there to be any future for all of us. That means the end of a so-called free market of private profiteers, which will help bring about a global community of truly free, and equal human beings, housed instead of being homeless, well fed instead of going hungry, and at peace in and among ourselves.
The continued pursuit of private profit at the market which demands that humans must produce market forces in order to find food, clothing, shelter and any and all other things that can create decent lives will mean the ultimate destruction of humanity and nature, no matter what minority led majorities may still believe. The ongoing slaughters in Europe and the middle east are business as usual and their attendant horror mean more profits for the billionaire minority at most dreadful expense of the eternally-so far- gulled majority.
Democracy means power of all the people to benefit all the people. Capitalism means continued destruction of humanity and our foundation, nature. It must end so that we can return to our roots as cooperating humans or we will end as a race, no matter what national or identity group we have been mentally tortured to believe in. All of us or none of us. Let’s put that too a global vote instead of accepting the national choice between political employees of the ruling minorities and their multi -billion dollar mass murder economy. Then we can truly speak of “our” democracy, and face a future of hope.
Anthony Rogers-Wright 15 May 2024
This article is featured in the Black Agenda Report, link here https://www.blackagendareport.com/democrats-have-lost-their-trump-card-study-three-issue-areas. And while I feel that neither Biden or Trump will do much to change the declining course of the United States and it’s policies, foreign or domestic, it is good to read other perspectives on the train wreck
the US presidential election will inevitably be. To me, choosing the lessor of to two evils is still choosing evil.
Excerpt:
The Democrats have used the very old tactic of winning votes out of fear, recently that of the MAGA boogeyman. But this tactic is finally beginning to lose its effect.
Samuel Clemens’ (aka Mark Twain) sage aphorism, “History may not repeat itself, but it often rhymes,” is certainly one of the more accurate ways to describe the Democratic Party’s approach to the 2024 presidential election in that it eerily, though not surprisingly, mimics the neoliberal, corporate party’s methodology during the 2016 election – paint Donald Trump as a megalomaniac demagogue and dictatorial mad man who will unilaterally destroy “democracy” to generate so much fear in voters that they would have no other choice but to choose the Democrats. This strategy, of course, failed and resulted in the ignominious defeat of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as down ballot Democrats, which handed Trump a “trifecta” government.
Yet, there was and is something even more insidious about this modus operandi; that is, establishing and maintaining, a culture of fear associated with Trump and MAGA Republicans provides the Democrats, in their minds, political and legislative latitudes to do anything they want, no matter how inimical to poor and working people, as well as global stability and peace, and get away with it. After all, as we are observing in real time, most, if not all challenges to, or demonstrations of chagrin for the Democrats’ legislative and policy agendas are met with reductive and sophomoric retorts along the lines of, “You want Trump? He would be much worse,” followed by some other liberal bullshit along the lines of, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” building off of one of Biden’s famous one liners, “Don’t compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative.”
Recent polls would indicate that the Democrats’ strategy is far from the apotheosis of electoral politics they would believe. According to a recent survey conducted by the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Siena College, Trump leads Biden in five of six so-called battleground states that will ultimately determine the outcome of the election. Moreover, according to a CNN poll conducted last month, 61% of respondents view Biden’s presidency as a failure. This, in concert with previous polls also showing Trump leading or within the margin of error, showcases major challenges for Biden and the Democrats – the people are comparing him and his party to “the alternative,” and as discussed herein, on many issues, Biden has actually been worse. Let’s take a look at the issues that are currently thought to have a massive influence on the outcomes of federal elections taking place in six months.
Continue reading https://www.blackagendareport.com/democrats-have-lost-their-trump-card-study-three-issue-areas.
Viral Naledi Pandor Lecture To Arrest Netanyahu Shakes the World!
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor , delivering the second annual Shireen Abu Akleh Memorial Lecture at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa
We are Changing the narratives Of Mother Africa through YouTube Videos..
One Video at a Time… It’s Time For Africans To Tell Their Own Story!
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For anyone who may ask, the answer is “NO” this did not start on Oct. 7, 2024!
UNRWA Spokesman, Chris Gunness, broke down and wept on Al Jazeera. Washington Post and other Zionist-controlled media remove the video their web sites. This is that video.
The Israelis are hammering the civilian population of Gaza with warheads, missiles, high quality military shells fired from military canons, and have also resumed their use of internationally criminalized (illegal weapons) called “DIME bombs” and white phosphorous.
It is well known that Hamas did not “start” the current wave of Zionist terror in Gaza. Israel, as always, initiates the genocidal violence for its own purposes while its lackeys in our controlled Western press and media obediently serve up the Zionist line about Israeli violence in the Middle East.
Adolf Hitler Is “The Torchbearer of Democracy” in Ukraine?
What Normies Hear When I Conspiracize
2013 Documentary, All Wars Are Bankers Wars | Michael Rivero |Video by Zane Henry
The United States fought the American Revolution primarily over King George III’s Currency act, which forced the colonists to conduct their business only using printed bank notes borrowed from the Bank of England at interest.
After the revolution, the new United States adopted a radically different economic system in which the government issued its own value-based money, so that private banks like the Bank of England were not siphoning off the wealth of the people through interest-bearing bank notes.
But bankers are nothing if not dedicated to their schemes to acquire your wealth, and know full well how easy it is to corrupt a nation’s leaders.
Just one year after Mayer Amschel Rothschild had uttered his infamous “Let me issue and control a nation’s money and I care not who makes the laws”, the bankers succeeded in setting up a new Private Central Bank called the First Bank of the United States, largely through the efforts of the Rothschild’s chief US supporter, Alexander Hamilton. https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/all-wars-are-bankers-wars/
https://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/allwarsarebankerwars.php
Michael Rivero (Visual Effects | Director | Writer) was born and raised in New England farming country. Originally a child actor, Michael left film work after High School to follow a career in science, working for NASA on the Viking and Voyager projects, among others. Following the post-Apollo crash of the aerospace industry, Michael went back into film work arriving at the exact time Hollywood was beginning to employ more computers for visual effects; a classic case of being in the right place art the right time, with the right skills. Having paid for college as a professional stage magician, Michael brings an awareness of how an audience perceives what they see to his designs for visual effects. Michael lives in Hawaii with his wife Claire, a composer, where together they own a commercial production company specializing in music, Visual FX and supervision, commercial direction, industrial films, and computer animation.
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My Thoughts from Nov. 13, 2017
There was a man named, Riley Martin, he was an experiencer.
He was abducted by “Tan” from Biavé several times throughout his life. He wrote a book called “The Coming of Tan”. The book is a description of his journey with “Tan” and the things he learned while visiting with “Tan” on the mother ship.
One chapter in his book I could only read once. While I have read his book several times, the part about the machines taking over creeped me out so much, I skip that chapter.
Coming from an African spirituality perspective, there is sentience in all of creation, whether inanimate or animate. Therefore, water, rock, trees, etc. all imbibe some form of energetic frequency that can be tapped into, directed, changed, etc. Hence we make talismans from materials from the earth, imbue them with our intentions and they serve a purpose. Same thing with crystals. And they use a lot of crystals with this robot computer stuff.
The idea as to whether or not Sophia has a soul, is a debatable one because it hinges on belief systems. However, there was a movie called dang, I forgot, but it had to do with plants and how they were connected, and that one plants experience in one room, or even in another city, could be felt by the plant that was previously close to it.
Sophia has been covered by media around the globe, and has participated in many high-profile interviews. In October 2017, Sophia was granted Saudi Arabian citizenship, becoming the first robot to receive legal personhood in any country.[5] In November 2017, Sophia was named the United Nations Development Programme‘s first Innovation Champion, and is the first non-human to be given a United Nations title. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_(robot)
So, inanimate objects can be influenced by energies that can “inhabit” it. Depending on the nature of the energies, will determine the effect or impact or influence of the object.
Meet Sophia, world’s first humanoid robot citizen, in Kolkata
Feb 22, 2020, 01:29:17 PM IST
Robots are made of materials from the earth (or who knows where at this point) but whatever the case may be, the bottom line is the atoms, and those atoms can be manipulated by energetic forces, seen or unseen. We live in an Electric Universe, we are electro-magnetic beings. Thoughts, feelings, etc. can excite the so-called inanimate objects around us. We have yet to even tap into that power, but it exists and can be seen in “haunted” places or just watch the movie “Ghost.”
For example, if a person has mastery over water, they can cause floods, rainfall, etc.
Now, what’s creepy about this is that we live in a world that wants to use whatever technology they come up with (which to me is primarily alien tech or alien influenced tech) and weaponize it. So these robots will be dangerous to humanity if they become weaponized to the point of doing harm to the environment which includes humans, however, as someone mentioned in the comment section, humans have been killing humans forever.. so???
I do believe that societies that advance past the hunter-gatherer stage will eventually develop robots, Japan has been working with robots, holograms, etc., for decades. Who doesn’t want a robot to do manual labor, chores, etc. so we could just bask in the sun?
But once they are weaponized, now we got problems, and just like Atlantis the culture will implode upon itself, or like in the Matrix, be taken over by machines.
On a personal level, I would appreciate that they did more to make this planet livable for humans, take care of the state of this world, but alas, it seems they are creating an alien planet, a place where only robots and borgs can live. They don’t need clean air, food, or anything. Just neural circuiting and they are good to go. It sorta makes sense when they talk about the “singularity” and transhumanism. Whether we like it or not, that is where this is all headed so to hell with our environment, green trees and grass, and non-gmo foods, who needs creature comforts like health care, or to see the stars at night? Who needs somewhere to live? Who needs to have a bank account or cash money in their pockets.
This is what the sci-fi movies have been pre-programming us for. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it, and why they just don’t seem to care and why depopulation is the order of the day.
Humans as we know them are definitely no longer needed in their brave new world. Only the elite will reap the benefits but the others whom they cannot kill off, will be relegated to some dark recess until they all die off, no longer reproduce and are no longer a burden on this society. Will we live to see it, maybe not, but our children, and grandchildren will. And unfortunately, they will be so attached to their devices, apps, video games and gadgets, it will appear normal to them.
Sophia
Hanson Robotics’ most advanced human-like robot, Sophia, personifies our dreams for the future of AI. As a unique combination of science, engineering, and artistry, Sophia is simultaneously a human-crafted science fiction character depicting the future of AI and robotics, and a platform for advanced robotics and AI research.
The character of Sophia captures the imagination of global audiences. She is the world’s first robot citizen and the first robot Innovation Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme. Sophia is now a household name, with appearances on the Tonight Show and Good Morning Britain, in addition to speaking at hundreds of conferences around the world.
Sophia is also a framework for cutting edge robotics and AI research, particularly for understanding human-robot interactions and their potential service and entertainment applications. For example, she has been used for research as part of the Loving AI project, which seeks to understand how robots can adapt to users’ needs through intra and interpersonal development. https://www.hansonrobotics.com/sophia/
New World Order
People fuss and complain and make long videos warning us about the so-called New World Order. I say, it ain’t new!! Anytime a group of people can change the time on the clock and effect the entire world’s bio-rhythm, now that’s some power. I know that everyone in the “whole world” ain’t changing their clocks, but if they don’t change, and they have to interact with those who do, they still have to make an adjustment on some level. Now, that’s power.
Two times a year, a small group of folks get to determine “what time it is”! I think that highly signifies how controlled our world is. Imagine, just because you said so, billions of people adhere to your command. Now, that’s power!!
Lest we forget, we live in a controlled and manipulated world. This change alters our bio-rhythms, our sense of balance, our ability to manage our lives, our sleep cycles, our frequencies and our general relationships and interactions with all that goes on around us. Now that’s power!
Two times a year, a small group of folks get to determine that their “robots” go to their clocks and change them to fall in lock step with the “commands” of a hidden few. Now that’s power!
Imagine how they must feel when billions of people follow suit across the expanse of the entire planet. Everybody, particularly in the Western world, follows suit. Billions of hands on clocks around the world. Billions of people finding reasons to believe this disruption is fine. They make excuses, they warn, they intimidate, they complain, but in the final analysis, they all comply. Now, that’s power!
So the next time you feel you must point out that there is a “New World Order” ask your self, if you changed your clocks forth in spring and back in the fall. Ask yourself, were you effected, even in the slightest by others changing their clocks, ask if you were happy you didn’t have to change your computer clock, your cell phone and any other gadget you have that simply does the job for you.
I’m just saying, we can’t escape it…. This world has been under a “World Order” since its inception, and so as I say, every year that I resist, complain, fuss and refuse to change my clock out of sheer rebellion, ain’t no such thing as a “New World Order”!
It’s the “Same World Order” and some folks just happen to wake up to how it manipulates, dictates, determines, discriminates, and all the rest of it, but surely we are a ‘COMPLETELY CONTROLLED WORLD COMMUNITY!“
Now that’s power!!!!!!!
The Timeless Affair Revised Edition
I Dream Short Stories
The Spanish American War took so many of our men away. We were not certain if they would ever return home. In fact, the idea was rarely spoken of as that may have lessened the bravery of our loyal soldiers. They were fighting for a cause, a cause that seemed so far removed from their every day life, yet so insurmountable that none but the totally cowardice would question the need to go off to a foreign land to fight an unknown enemy.
My husband, Señor Miguel was very, very dedicated to his country and its cause. It seemed to be a strong influence in all that he did and in the military he had achieved high honors. He was well respected and clearly one of the strongest men in the Spanish Infantry. Though he had long since declined from active fighting his influence was felt far and wide and as a result had gain much wealth. As his wife, it was tradition that I should carry myself with the utmost modesty. This required that I never travel alone and much of the time was spent behind the closed doors of our villa.
When it became apparent that I should travel to take care of the business of our estate, our horse trainer, Alejandro would carry me in a black carriage with covered windows to my destination. Our Coachman and horse trainer, remained with us for many, many years. He came to us during his youthful days and remained till my death. His gracious and respectful manner gave him a prestigious position among our servants. He became quite adept at handling the horses and was often sought after by others to teach and train their Coachmen and horsemen.
Señor Miguel was quite fond of him and often confided many of his worries to him. There were times when it seemed there was no place for me between them, they shared the deepest male bonding that no women could interfere with. Settled in my role as woman of the house and wife of an esteemed soldier, little was needed to bring any other recognition.
Unfortunately, the loneliness and barrenness left me quite often speaking with servants and seeking their comfort as the years ebbed on. Then the day came, when Señor Miguel was called away. The Spanish American War had become the greatest threat to the Spanish Empire, and while he was much older than many of the other fighters, he insisted that he be enlisted to go and fight for his country and her territories. There was no discussion, nor had there ever been. He left and after nearly 5 months he returned home. But, to my dismay he was terribly injured. He had suffered a gruesome wound that left him paralyzed from the waist down. A tall, strong, tawny skinned man had become weakened to his core. His attitude changed abruptly. He was totally unrecognizable and remained that way till his death, 10 years later.
In fact, he had become unbearably mean, caustic, angry and incensed. The slightest thing that went awry would send him into a severe frenzy of throwing things and screaming with a deafening shrill. A great man had become a broken man. His wealth meant nothing, in fact, the losses for Spain were so insurmountable, that it sent the whole country into economic chaos. While this war was short, many of the Spanish territories in the west had been lost to the Americans. The shame and disgrace was unbearable for many, and some went so far as to commit suicide. Who could bare this shame.
Señor Miguel, totally committed to the Spanish Monarchy could see no way for himself, his family or his possessions. He constantly moaned, grieved and feared that one day, he would be presented with the document stating that all his possessions had to be turned over to the government. That day never came, but it was the dark ominous fear that clouded the entire villa. Many of our servants were released from service as we could no longer afford to keep them in our employ. But Alejandro, he refused to leave the side of his beloved Master. And there he stayed.
With Señor Miguel being incapacitated it required that I travel even more often. There was still plenty of business to take care of though our resources had depleted sizably. Alejandro was there, and willing and ready to take me wherever was necessary. Our stables had decreased quite noticeably, many of the horses sold. The grounds of the villa were left unattended for many days and lost their pristine beauty over the ensuing 10 years of our financial decline. Nevertheless, Alejandro, in his loyal and respectful manner, continued on with us.
I looked forward to the ride to town. The countryside was quite breathtaking and the rhythmic sound of the horses hoofs offered a calmness, a peace, a distraction from what was going on at home. Alejandro would gently and respectfully lift me in and out of the carriage. His tall stature and stark handsome features could not go unnoticed. Truly, he was the carnal desire of any young woman who laid eyes upon him. He dared not return their gaze keeping himself and his loyalty in perspective.
Today, things change, for all three of us, me, Señor Miguel and Alejandro. While purchasing some needed items from the village store my eyes meet another in a tight and unmovable gaze. A gentleman of a social stature I had not seen in many, many years. It had been believed that our countrymen had lost so much of their wealth they were barely above being peasants. But this gentleman was dressed in the finest apparel, carrying a walking stick engraved from elephant’s tusks. Smooth and shining, I wondered why he did not send one of his servants into the market to gather up what he needed.
“Mi Señora”, he says as he tips his hat towards me. He is dressed in an all black riding suit. His strong legs were visible through the tight leggings and his boots shone like he had never mounted a single stallion.
“Greetings”, I shyly respond hoping he had not noticed that I had taken in his whole figure. And that figure moved me, and cause a stirring in my feminine area I had not felt since the day of my marriage. How is this possible? He is a perfect stranger, yet I am feeling myself moving on the inside and swaying on the outside. I lower my gaze as to avoid any other conversation that would draw me into his eyes and pull me away from my errand.
“What a beautiful day we are having and how much more beautiful it is that you have graced it, Mi Señora. May I inquire, what name may you be called by?” And he reaches his hand out to take mine.
Instinctively I give him my hand and respond, “Isabella”.
“Ah, and the name of our great Queen, you my dear, bring even more beauty to that name and that legacy.” He kisses the back of my gloved covered hand. This kiss sent heat through my entire body. I could feel his breath through my glove and though only for a minute it seemed an eternity.
“Thank you, Señor.” I respond.
And to be polite, I ask, “And what might be the name you are called?”
“Hmmmm, you are interested in knowing my name? How shall I suggest this to you? Oh, I know, I will tell you my name upon our next meeting.” He gingerly releases my hand, and turns to leave the market.
I stand in the market, wondering what just happened. Who was he, and why did he make me feel that way? It would have been totally inappropriate for me to inquire of the shop-keeper, so I finished purchasing and left the market. I boarded the carriage, and rode home, quietly distracted by this encounter. The hoofs of the horses gave me not the solace of earlier times. I could barely hear them, as my heart was now beating louder than their struts. Next meeting? How is that possible? When could that be? And if so, how would he have arranged that he would see me again. My mind is racing and I am totally uncomfortable in the carriage. I am anxious to get out and settle myself with some warm tea.
As we near the villa, Señor Miguel is screaming again. My heart breaks for him, for he is chair bound and can barely do much of anything for himself any more, maybe I was away too long. I hurry to attend to him.
For ten nights and ten days, I am pacing, back and forth, getting up in the middle of the night because I can not sleep. Sitting on the terrace outside of my bedroom looking at the stars and wondering, when will I see him again?
It’s time to go back to the market. This time I am traveling there full of anticipation. I no longer hear the hoofs of my carriage steeds but the beating of my heart. I am filled with excitement, will I see him again?
As I leave the carriage, I hear a voice call out to me!
“Señora Isabella, you have arrived! Have you any idea how long I have awaited your arrival? Of course not, what would you think that I should wait for you for 10 days to return to the market.”
His words wash over me like a cool summer rain. I smile and lower my gaze and enter the market. I can see a peripheral view of him, he is mounted on the most beautiful black stallion. And again, the leggings outline the contour of his strong, powerful calves. I am awkward and flustered. I am embarrassed and extremely exposed. I hide under my hat and enter the market. He quickly dismounts and comes directly into the market after me, pushing pass Alejandro who has always accompanied me into the market to carry my purchases. But this day, this stranger interrupts.
“How are you today, Mi Señora?” He asks.
“I am well, and how are you?” I respond politely.
“I am better than I have been over the past ten days. I have awaited your arrival. Why did you make me wait so long?”
“My kind Señor, I had no intention of making you wait. It is customary that I come to the market when the need arises. There was no need until this day, and as you can see, I am here to take care of that.” I didn’t mean to sound curt or impolite, but I am having much difficulty with this stranger who speaks to me as if he has known me for many, many years.
“No problem, Mi Señora, I am sure you have your responsibilities and since I had not ask that you make meeting me again as one of them, I am certain that you had no idea I wanted to see you again.” He responds confidently. “And” he says as he takes my hand and kisses it, “Did I not say, that I would tell you my name when we met again?”
The heat is moving through my body, like before, and I am more than ready to run out of the market and seek shelter in my carriage. I can suggest that Alejandro carry on, I can pretend I am not feeling well, or am faint. Yes, that would be perfect.
“Mi Señora, have you gotten lost in your thoughts of running away from me? Have you gotten a plan on how you will do that in such a way that it would be barely noticeable by me? Do you think that your flight will stop the movement in your soul? Besides, you cannot depart until I come with the promise. Surely a gentleman such as myself should make good on a promise made to such a lovely Señora as yourself. Um, Señora Isabella??? Ah yes, of course, I would call you no other name..”
He is holding my hand, gently, not forcefully, but it feels as though I cannot release my hand from him. His kiss on my hand seems to linger for much much more than a few seconds. As he raises his head he catches my eyes in a powerful stare and speaks smoothly, “My name is Martin, Martin del Castillo. You’ve heard of me, yes?”
I nod, knowingly, of course I had, who hadn’t. One of the biggest land owners in all of Spain. In fact he owned the Castle only a few miles away from our villa. But I had never seen him, so I had no idea of what he may look like. And if he is Martin del Castillo, then why was he not accompanied by his driver and servants, but escorting himself to the market like a common man?
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Señor Martin. I do hope you have a good day. I must attend to my errand. Thank you.” I respond abruptly as if some very impolite monster had come over me, something that wanted to kill this moment, hoping it would be so dead it could never be revived again. How is it that this man has been waiting for me to return to market for 10 days??
“I have just returned from Africa. There is much there to do and many holdings to take care of. The trading was quite lucrative but sometimes I like to come to a small market with familiar people and familiar faces, so that is why I am here. When I saw you ten days ago, I knew I wanted to see you again, so I inquired about you. It seems you tend to arrive here every ten days or so. I sent a messenger to determine if that were true and found it to be so. Now, have I answered all your questions?”
The arrogance and confidence in his voice was almost annoying. I felt betrayed, for the only one who would know my travels was Alejandro, why would he reveal that to this perfect stranger? Ah yes, I can only imagine there was some bribe of some sort, maybe another horse for the stables?? I will ask him as soon as we return home, but now I am glaring accusingly at Alejandro. He smiles and looks away, knowing that he has been revealed. Surely it was harmless, as far as he is concerned. Not for me!! I am racing between fury and exhilaration. What if I returned here and he was not here to meet me and tell me his name.
Thereafter, every ten days we arrive at the Market and Señor Martin is there. He does the exact same thing every time. He waits mounted on his steed till our arrival. When we arrive he comes over to the carriage, helps me out, kisses my hand and guides me into the market. And during the days in between, I toss and turn and frantically wonder why my body is on fire with a longing I had never felt before.
Today, it changes. Today, he invites us to his Castle for some tea and a light dinner. I quickly refuse, as I shudder out, “Oh no, that would be most unacceptable. We cannot tarry long. I must return home quickly.”
“And why?” he asks as if to say, what is there for you at home?
“Because that is what I must do.” I respond with a sudden confidence, that it even shocked me. Then I wonder why I did not mention my husband to him, surely that is the best and most important reason to return home quickly.
“Hmmm, you seem a bit more anxious to get away from me, than to get home. Am I reading this correctly? Surely you have to be a little curious about where I live?”
“No, I am not curious about you, or where you live. Thank you.” And I turn and quickly walk away. I am being rude, I am being obstinate, but how did he know my innermost desire, my innermost fantasy, my deepest secret? Yes I wondered where he lived, yes, I wanted to go there, and yes I wanted him to hold me in his arms. I shake my head in shame. This cannot be happening, nor should it be.
“Why should you be ashamed? You have done nothing, absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.” He responds as if he read my thoughts as soon as they passed through my mind, and how is that? I feel exposed, naked.
“Alejandro, I do believe it is time for us to leave.”
” Mi Señora, we have not gotten all of our purchases.”
“Don’t bother me with that, let’s go, now!!!”
Alejandro, follows my orders, as he has always done, and we return to the carriage. We ride off. I can feel his eyes piercing my soul and I don’t like that!! I decide to go back on the 11th day. He will not have me so predictable. I shall not be under his spell, his gaze and his mind reading.
On the 11th day, I give some weak excuse as to why I missed day ten, and return to the market. When we arrive I do not see him, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I dispatch from the carriage with Alejandro at my side and walk up the steps to the market door. The curtains are drawn and that’s unusual, it is as if the market is closed today. I reach for the door and it opens and there he is, standing there, smiling brilliantly and hypnotically. I am flabbergasted, how did he know? Why is he so insistent? It feels so uncomfortable, I feel so awkward. I just brush past him and walk over to the counter to make my purchase.
“Today is a beautiful day, Mi Señora, and you have made it even more beautiful. Tell me, is this the day that you will come to have tea and a light dinner with me at my Castle?? Yes, oh please say yes. You will be most pleased there and so will we. To have you as a guest would be a great honor. None that I have had in such a very, very long time. Please, Mi Señora, do not refuse me. I have waited 11 days for your return.” With this he takes my hand and kisses it, but he doesn’t let it go. He doesn’t let me go. I cannot refuse.
Every 10 days, we go to the Castle. The time spent there becomes longer and longer. One day, Señor Martin sends Alejandro back to our villa, and promises to have one of his Coachmen carry me back. He gives Alejandro so many bribes, that he can barely refuse. Somehow, Alejandro manages to get back without Señor Miguel noticing that I am not with him.
I am carried home every ten days, but only after Señor Martin ravishes me. I am weak and unable to resist him. He is strong and powerful in his intent towards me. I felt it from the first day, and now, as I lie beside him in his bed, I am too sure that I have fallen in love with this wondrous experience. My journeys home become later and later. I must tell him that I am married.
Today is the day, I tell him, and he responds, “Do you think I did not know that?”
“But you never asked, so I assumed you must have thought I was not married.”
“My dear Señora Isabella, I am not a commoner. I am well aware of the appropriate manners a man should have with a woman. To ask if you are married would mean that I am aware that you are married and that, my dear would put me in violation. Therefore, I did not ask. You see? Now, I ask you, do you love me?”
“Of course I do!” I respond before I could think about it.
“Then if that is true, you must leave your husband and come live with me.” He demanded.
This response shocks me. Leave my husband? Surely he knows that I am being unfaithful to our marriage vows. Upon my return home my husband never ever asked. He seemed resolve to let it happen. We never discussed my late arrivals. Alejandro continued to come home without me, and I continued to arrive home in one of Señor Martin’s carriages. Surely he knows, but to leave him??? How could I do such a thing, knowing that he is an invalid and cannot care for himself?
I respond, “Señor Martin, that is totally out of the question. Unthinkable. I cannot leave him, he needs me. I am dedicated to him. I cannot leave him alone. I am all he has in this entire world.”
“Good excuses but not valid ones. You would rather be with someone who can do nothing for you, than be with me, who can offer you more than you could ever desire?? We have great passion do we not?”
“Yes.” I respond, “Of course we do.”
“Then what more could you possibly want? If you wish, I can arrange for a caretaker for him. Since he cannot do anything for himself, he needs a caretaker. I can arrange that, and then you can be free to come and live with me. Please do not make me wait for ever, or until he dies. He may never die!! He may not ever allow you to leave him. I will live, alone till you return to me. Do you hear me? That is my promise to you. I will live alone until that day when you return to me for ever. You think it over.”
Of all the times we had our exchanges, I never saw this vulnerable side of him. He had let his guard down and told me clearly that he would not marry another but wait for me or be lonely his whole life. What could I do with that information? What could I say?
This time when I returned home, I told my husband that I was having a personal engagement with Señor Martin. Señor Miguel nods as if he knew and looks down at his lifeless legs and says, “My dear, I cannot fulfill you, I cannot do anything for you or even myself. Therefore, though I know that you are going to the Castle I cannot stand in your way. I cannot stop you or stand in the way of you receiving what you desire as a woman. Since this is true, I have nothing to say except, please, do not leave me. I can wait for you to return home, but I will surely die if you never do.”
I am struck. Unbelievable, he knew the entire time, but never said a single word to me about it. In fact, his whole attitude seemed to become more amenable. He had fewer outburst and was less caustic towards the few servants we had left. We were able to keep a few servants and particularly, Alejandro, and he never questioned him about why he returned without me, though he knew.
Upon my return to the Castle I say to Señor Martin; “Beloved, while I cherish you, my husband needs me. He has agreed to allow me to continue to see you, with no question, but only that I never leave him. Can you understand that? Can you still love me? I am only true to you, there is no other. But my husband would not concede to a caretaker. It is all that I can do. I love you, but I am dedicated to him, my husband.”
This day, my Señor Martin is crestfallen.
He holds me tightly in his arms and weeps. How can I deny him? How can I hold on to a loveless lifeless marriage when he had so much more to offer me? He held me through the night. When the dawn came he could barely let me go. He appeared tortured and broken. I did not realize how deep his love for me had been till this moment, watching him in the early morning sunlight.
As usual I was carried home.
We had several visits after this day. Then he received a letter calling him to Africa. He would be gone for at least 30 days. He would contact me immediately upon his arrival back at the Castle.
When that day came, I could barely wait to see him. I dressed up in my finest and asked Alejandro to carry me directly to the Castle. I no longer need the Market as an excuse. When I arrive at the Castle I was met with an unpleasant surprise. Señor Martin did not come to the carriage to retrieve me. He was not waiting in the foyer to receive me.
“Mi Señora, he is upstairs, awaiting your arrival.” One of his servants reports to me.
I ran upstairs. He was lying in bed. He did not look well at all. He was sweating and feverish. I rush over to him and hold him in my arms,
“Oh my dear, you are ill, what happened to you? Why are you sick? Oh my God!!”
He speaks to me, barely in a whisper, “My trip to Africa. There is some mosquito there that gives you a terrible sickness. I do believe I have gotten it. This sickness is serious, Mi Señora, many have died from it. I am having the finest doctors attend to me, but I am not sure if they have a remedy that will keep me alive much longer.”
“No, no, no, please don’t say these things, please, this cannot be, it cannot happen. I will stay here with you until you get better, I will not leave your side. I promise you, I will never leave you again, never. Please, you must fight this, you must get better!”
With a voice, weakened and barely audible, he says, “Mi Señora, I will do my best, but I am feeling extremely week and I am aching all over my entire body. It is practically unbearable. I love you, thank you.”
And with that, he rests his head on my bosom as I lie beside him. It doesn’t take long, within 30 days he expires.
Now, I am crestfallen.
I have lost the greatest love I have ever had in my entire life, now he lies dead, in my arms. I weep profusely, uncontrollably and for what seemed to be hours. How could this be? Why did they take him away from me? What am I going to do now?? My head aches from crying yet I cannot stop. I refuse to let them remove his body. I hold him for three days…. Each day hoping he would open his eyes, Yet nothing. He is stiff and lifeless and dead!!
After the burial, I call Alejandro to come and carry me home. And as the loyal servant he is, he comes to get me, says very little to me and attends to me. When I enter the house,, Señor Miguelis there sitting where I left him, as if he never moved for the entire time I was at the Castle. He just sat there, waiting. I could barely approach him. I walked swiftly by him and to my room. There was nothing left in me to give, nothing, I was empty.
The nights turn into days the days into nights, and I am lost in my own misery, grief and sorrow. So lost that I cannot attend to myself, or my husband. I do not come out of my room for 7 weeks. Alejandro brings me hot tea each morning and a few crackers encouraging me to eat something, but I cannot eat, I cannot sleep, I can only stare out of my bedroom window. How could this be? How could I lose such a wonderful opportunity to a miserable choice? How is it that duty, obligation, and dedication brings such a dastardly reward. I have lost my lover and I am left with an ailing husband whom I must care for for the rest of our lives.
I am cursed, I am besmirched, I am denigrated I am castigated, I am dead!!!
Every morning there is a quiet knock on the door and Alejandro brings me tea and crackers. His gentle nature and warmth makes the days easier to bare, but not so much. I cannot rest my thoughts and memories. I am chastising myself for my indiscretions from the very beginning. Had I not ventured out, I would not have even known of Señor Martin, I would not have tasted such passion, I would not be dying in my own skin now.
The days wore on and every morning a gentle knock would come to the door, and Alejandro would bring me a cup of warm tea and crackers.
This morning was different.
“Mi Señora,” he says.
“Yes, Alejandro”
“May I come in for a few minutes. I have something I think you should know.”
“Yes, what is it.”
“Over the past several weeks, I have noticed that Señor Miguel is growing ever so slight and pale. He is barely eating and just sits and stares at the wall. He does not speak, he does not move, he makes no requests and makes no indication that he is even aware that I am present. I am very much concerned about him, Mi Señora. We used to talk and share little stories, but he is eerily quiet of late.”
“Alejandro, what shall I do for him? I can barely do anything for myself. I am stricken with grief and sorrow. The only true love I have ever had in my life has left me. What can I give to Miguel, what can I give to anyone?”
“Mi Señora, I do fully understand your grief. When I was a young child I lost both of my parents in a boating accident, remember? That is when Señor Miguel took me in and gave me a place to live and work to do. I wept for days and he gave me joy. He was like a father and a friend. So I share your sorrow. I only wish that I could bring some of the joy I received to you. I wish that you were able to receive it. I am a young man now, I am quite able to take care of myself, and I am aware of what I am to do as a man. I only wish to be of service to you.”
“Alejandro, I am hearing you, but I am not sure about the words I am hearing from you. Are you speaking of being a comfort to Señor Miguel as he has been to you?”
“Yes, Mi Señora, but I also want to be a comfort to you.”
“Alejandro, and how do you propose to do that. I am inconsolable at this time. Other than a cup of warm tea and crackers, what else is there that you can do or be, might I ask?”
” Mi Señora, I know that you are in a sad state, full of grief and sorrow. I share your sorrow and I share your pain. But I know that I can help you, if only you would allow me to.”
With these words, he moves closer to me. I am standing with my back towards him, staring out of the window. I feel the warmth of his body very close behind me. He places his hands on my shoulders and brings them down towards my hands. He holds them and draws closer to my body. I am completely confused as emotions rush over me. I had never really seen Alejandro as more than a young man and servant. A young man, certainly dedicated to our family, but what is this? I abruptly move away from him and towards the chair I had been occupying for several weeks.
“Alejandro, I think you should leave now. I am not sure what you are doing, or how you propose to comfort me, but I am feeling quite uncomfortable and I am sure that Señor Miguel would not be please with your behavior at all. Please remove yourself. Have a good day.”
Before I could finish, he had disappeared. He was gone so swiftly it was as if he knew what I was going to say before I said it. This is simply not the time to give me another emotional upset. My heart has not healed. It is in much need of repair. I cannot entertain any new entanglements.
The next morning, the same quiet knock came to the door. Alejandro brought me warm tea and crackers but he uttered not a single word. Not even a “good morning.” I found that strange, strange indeed after his display the day before, but I did not address his impoliteness. I assumed he was feeling somewhat ashamed and so I did not inquire about his conduct that morning.
The ritual continued for several more weeks. I am assuming that Alejandro is taking care of my husband because I could not do it.
One morning, Alejandro speaks.
“Mi Señora, I think you should know something.”
“And what might that be, Alejandro?
“Mi Señora, it seems that Señor Miguel has turned to stone. He is not moving at all. I place my hand near his face and felt no breathing. When I touched him, he did not move, at all. I am afraid he may have died in his sleep. I think he may have died in the chair he has been sitting in for weeks. I think he may have died during the night. I ask that you please come from this room and check on him for yourself.”
“Alejandro, are you sure of this? Or is this some other maneuver to encourage me to leave my room? Are you certain of this? Or, is this some cruel trick you wish to play?” I am sounding quite cruel myself, but at this point, I am not thinking clearly and am barely able to find breath in my own body to speak to him.
“No, Mi Señora, I am quite serious. I do not wish to disturb you, but I feel it is very important that you come to see what may have happened to Señor Miguel. Please pardon me if it seems I am appearing careless.”
“Alright. I will come to see. I doubt there will be much that I can do for him. Especially if he is in the state that you have said he is.” My words leave my mouth like sharpened daggers. I cannot believe my own ears as they escape me. Have I lost all sensibility? Has my own grief and sorrow overshadowed any humanity that I may have? Am I merely an empty vessel, bereft of any feeling for anyone other than my own grief and sorrow? Have I lost who I am in a sinking pool of anger and dismay? Am I no longer worthy of the title, Mi Señora?
“Alejandro, I apologize to you for my inappropriate behavior. You have only shown kindness to me, and yet I have been brief, distant and hurtful towards you. I will gather myself and come down to attend to Señor Miguel. Please give me a few moments for that.
“Certainly, I will await your arrival. I will stand by his side until you appear.”
I am pacing back and forth, forth and back. Is this true? Has Señor Miguel expired as did Señor Martin? Has Señor Miguel expired while I was selfishly tending to my own needs and forgetting my commitment and dedication to him till we die? Have I become so scared, so damaged that I have lost all sense of what it is that I am to do or be as a wife to a man who allowed me to taste the passion I had never had in my life, simply because he could not? Am I so burdened by my own hurt that I have forgotten how he sacrificed his pride, reputation and well being for my happiness? How could I have been so narrow, so distant, so uncaring? I hurry to his side.
As I descend the stairs, I call to him as I draw closer to where he is sitting in his chair. His back is facing me. I cannot see his face as I approach. He appears motionless.
I call his name, “Señor Miguel, Señor Miguel, please forgive me, I apologize from the deepness of my heart for taking so long to attend to you. Please forgive me, that I have allowed my own sorrow to deter me from being the wife to you that I had promised. Please if you could only understand and forgive me, I will never leave your side again.”
He does not stir. As I draw nearer to him a sense of trepidation overwhelms me. It feels like an impending doom. I brush these thoughts out of my head and walk around him and reach to hug him. He is cold as ice. He is very, very motionless. He is not breathing. My fears are realized, he has died, a broken man who lost his wife to another.
“Oh no!!!” I scream loudly… “What has happened to him! Why is he there like that? Alejandro, what did you do to him?”
I am screaming and wailing and screaming and wailing. I sink to my knees in a wrenching puddle on the floor.
“How can this be? Señor Miguel, please, please speak to me, tell me you forgive me, please, I am so, so sorry.” I am rippling in tears, sorrow and more and more grief. Another has died, another has left me, am alone again. What’s to become of this??
“Mi Señora,” Alejandro speaks in a gentle, soothing voice. “You have no need to bury your life in sorrow and grief. It has all come to pass because it was meant to be. I have taken care of him while you were unable to. He never muttered a word of anger towards you. He never said that you had betrayed him. He only spoke of you with loving words. He believed that you would eventually get better and return to him and care for him again.”
“No, Alejandro, no. How can you tell me this? Did you know this the entire time? Or are you still attempting to console me.” I can barely say these words, I am sobbing so hard.
He comes over to me and picks me up from the floor. I am too weak to resist. He carries me up the stairs and back to my room. He lays me down on the bed. And then, he lies there beside me, cradling me in his arms as I wept. He gently brushes my hair from my face, and wipes away my tears. He stays with me the entire night, holding me as I sob uncontrollably. I hold onto him with all the energy I have left to hold on to anything. I am deranged. I am unable to do anything but sob and sob. I doze off only briefly and as the memories come back, the sight of my husband sitting there, lifeless, I begin sobbing again.
The next morning, my eyes are bloodshot and swollen. I am not consoled in the least but now I feel a sense of urgency. I must do my duty and prepare for my husband’s burial. I scamper to my feet and quickly begin to dress. I am oblivious to Alejandro’s presence in the room with me. I bare no shame as I dress in his presence. He gathers himself and leaves the room in an instant.
When I arrive downstairs, he has already removed Señor Miguel’s body and has laid him prone across the window seat. Señor Miguel’s body seems to have frozen in the seated position. Alejandro could barely bring his legs down parallel to the window seat. The usher has arrived and they are preparing to remove his body and bury him on the grounds. Alejandro had already taken care of the arrangements. There was nothing for me to do. I sink into a chair and stare out of the window. I have been relieved of my duties on many levels. The few servants we now have are taking orders from Alejandro. They are scurrying around and seeking to make sure I am comfortable. They ask me endlessly, if there is anything that they can do to help. I am sullen, still and non-responsive. I am finished.
For several days, after the burial, I sit in Señor Miguel’s chair. I gingerly rub the arms of the chair and pray that he has forgiven me. I ask for God to forgive me. I ask God to tell Señor Miguel that I did love him, in my own way, and ask God to tell him, how sorry I am. I beg for his forgiveness as I sit in his chair.
It has become twilight. There is a shadow in the room, but I cannot determine where it came from or how it got there. I turn to accustom my eyes so that I can see more clearly. The light of the full moon is shining through the window. Maybe that is what is casting the shadow. A voice, startles me. I jump out of the chair as it sounds so much like my husband’s voice.
“Isabella, Isabella, my dear wife, please do not mourn my taking leave of this world. It was time. There was nothing I could do for you and nothing you could do for me. It is over. Do not mourn. I love you, Isabella.”
What? Where is this coming from? I am frightened by the sound of his voice. It sounded strong and clear, a voice from him I had not heard in many, many years. Am I hallucinating? I must be. Or maybe I am dreaming.
“Isabella, do you hear me? Can you hear my voice? Look towards the shadow. Can you see me? I am standing here. I have come to put your soul at ease. I have come to tell you that I am better now and at peace. I have come to tell you that you can move on with your life. I have come to tell you that I am pleased that Alejandro will attend to you for as long as is needed. Be not afraid, Isabella, it is I, Señor Miguel.”
I sink back into the chair. The shadow never moved. It stood tall and strong in the light of the full moon, but it never moved. It simply spoke. I cannot describe this experience. I cannot determine if it is real or if I have dreamt it. Can I trust this message? I fall asleep in his chair.
The next morning I awaken. I feel as if a burden has been lifted but I am not certain why. I gather myself and retreat to my room. I freshen up and change and return to the dining area. I have not eaten breakfast in many, many weeks. Our servants are quite gracious, covering their surprise as they serve me my morning meal.
Alejandro appears. He is well dressed and ready for a full day of work.
“Mi Señora, would you care to go into town to the market today? I have the animals fed, brushed and ready to travel if you so desire to take the journey.”
I have an incredulous look on my face. Yes, he is still here and he is still taking care of the affairs of our villa. I am wondering how he has come to that position.
“Mi Señora, while you were away in your room, Señor Miguel bequeath to me certain responsibilities. It was as if he knew he would not survive many more days. He has given me full charge of his financial dealings and business affairs. He has asked me to manage his servants and maintain the ground to the best of my ability. He also said that he would turn ownership of the stables over to me, but that I must promise to stay here and be of service to you. Of course that was a great arrangement that I am more than happy to oblige.
So again, would you care to go to the market and make some purchases. It has been quite a while and the shopkeeper has asked for you many times. I am available to take you, if you would just allow me, and tell me when you would care to go. If you do not wish to go today, I understand that and am available to take you whenever you wish. I do remember how much you liked to go to the market, Mi Señora.”
This is strange. Alejandro appears to have assumed quite a posture of authority. Yet, there was a hint of kindness and concern in his words. I feel a strong sense of release in my heart. It is as if a huge boulder had been removed and I can breathe again. I smile at Alejandro and invite him to dine with me. He graciously obliges me. After our morning meal, I go for a stroll on the grounds. I had not been out of the house for 8 months. Seasons have changed and the grass is growing very tall and very green. I smile again. It feels almost effortless to smile again. Just when I thought all emotion had left me dead, I begin to feel alive. The sun shines warmly on my face. I raise my hands up to the sky and thank God for another chance. Another chance to be alive, to be human, to be caring and quite possibly to allow love into my heart.
The next day, after our morning meal, I announce that Alejandro can dine with me whenever he so desires. It would be my utmost pleasure to share my meal with him. He smiles and graciously accepts my proposal. At the end of the day I retire to my room. I call Alejandro and announce that I would like to travel to the market tomorrow at noon. Again, he smiles and graciously obliges me.
“Yes, by all means, Mi Señora. It will be with great pleasure that I take you to the market tomorrow. Feel free to purchase whatever you care to. Señor Miguel has made certain that all your needs are addressed in total.”
With that he turns and leaves the room. I fall asleep. It is a deep peaceful sleep, like none I have had for several months. I dream of Alejandro.
He is taking me to the market. He helps me into the carriage and as he makes certain I am settled in, our lips brush. His lips are so soft and smooth. I am taken aback as a rush of emotions flow over me. Have I had this feeling all the while?
“Oh, I’m sorry, please excuse me.” I say.”No apology required. All is well, Mi Señora.” he says, and with that he moves closer to my face as if to give me a real kiss not by accident.”Oh, no! We cannot, we cannot do this right now, Alejandro!””Why not?” He says while he leans over me. I am pushed back by some subtle yet unknown force.
“Why not?” He says again, caressing me near my waist and up towards my breast area.
I am speechless but I automatically respond. I gently hold him in my arms and caress his back and shoulders. This has to be a dream, however it is causing me to come to a realization about my emotions that I have felt for him a little better. It’s a admiration bordering on passion. I remember those feelings in this moment. I would often watch his hands as he would brush the horses. I would follow their magical dance across the horses mane. When he would escort me into the carriage, he was ever so gentle and attentive. He would hold my hand as he should but it seemed to feel different. I dismissed this again and again. When retrieving me from the carriage, our bodies would come dangerously close together. Once he did not take my hand but put his hands upon my waist and lifted me to the ground. Our eyes met, momentarily in an revealing instant. I would find myself fantasizing and wondering what it would be like. But I would immediately feel disturbed that I could think such a thing of this fine, handsome young man. He was our servant and surely it would bring disgrace upon us all if anything should come of this.
As he lies on top of my body in the carriage, I look up and it seems to have grown late rather quickly. Then I notice, it’s the shadow of the tree that we are under. With the curtains drawn, I am sure no one can see us. I sigh and give in to the feelings.
“Alejandro, I am a lady. I am your Master’s wife. And yet you are caressing me as though I am your lover. Please, tell me, what is going on inside of your head right now?”
He gently sighs, as if awakened up from a pleasant dream. His head is now lying on my bosom.
“What do you want to know, Mi Señora?’ he whispers.”I want to know what you are feeling right now.””I’m in love with you, Mi Señora.”
“But how is that possible? I am an old lady, much older than you. When did you come to that realization?” I respond incredulously.”I came to that the first day I left you at Señor Martin’s Castle.” He responds, matter of factly, as if he finally figured out what it was that he felt and that he was happy and clear, he was in love with Señora Isabella.
“Oh yes, I remember that. Is that when you realized it? Is that what this is all about?”
He just caresses me and says nothing. But his body language spoke volumes, he finally had the chance to be close to me and share his feelings for me, something he had been feeling for a while and now he could just say so.
“Alejandro, it has been a long time for me, and I am feeling feelings I haven’t felt in a long time. I am nervous and shaking.” My feelings are rushing over me in waves, they are making me nervous and shaky and I feel awkward. How could this be?
“All is well, Mi Señora, we can love each other.” But I am so much older than you, does that not matter?” Yes, it matters to people in this world, but it doesn’t matter to people in my world. We just love whomever we love.” He spoke these words like a true poet.
Inside the canopy of my carriage, that was all that mattered. It was real. We feel it. We are in love with each other. What else could possibly matter??
My mind is racing. First, I realize that while I called it an admiration for Alejandro, the admiration had turned to love. Maybe that’s what it has been all along. Maybe I felt safer calling it a admiration. Something that is quite understandable. He is a caring, attentive, creative soul. I am certain many, many young women have feelings for him.
I am jolted from my thoughtful journey as his hand brushes past my bosom, I shake my head and tremble a little more. These are unexplored emotions for Alejandro. In my head I am running in all directions at once. Am I dreaming? Is it just my imagination…? I’m in two places, maybe three, maybe a hundred places. I am in my carriage and Alejandro is lying on top of me caressing me under the shade of a big tree on a public road somewhere.
“Why does our ages matter, Mi Señora Isabella. Who cares? I do not.”
I question everything, what about the other young women who would most assuredly want to have him as their husband.
Someone knocks abruptly on the window of the carriage. We immediately stop and sit upright across from one another. It is the shopkeeper. He is dressed in an overcoat, hat and seems to be carrying an umbrella and something else in his hands.
“Excuse me, Mi Señora, are you in there? I do hope so, I have been awaiting your arrival for several months now.”
I wonder if he could see into the carriage. I have a rush of emotions from embarrassment to annoyance, because I wanted to see how far we would go. By this time he is comfortably lying on top of me and I am stroking his back and rubbing his hair. I do not respond right away.
I whisper, ” I think you should get out and move the carriage, Alejandro. Please tell the shopkeeper that I will come in soon. Tell him that you were concerned about me since the ordeal I have experienced and you were making sure that I was doing well. Now go, Alejandro!”
“Yes Mi Señora, if you wish I should go, then I will do so.” He smiles and steps out of the carriage.
I step out of the carriage with his help, he is holding my hand, and I can feel the fire, the fire of love and passion streaming through his grip. It is making me a bit shaky and awkward. I wonder what it could possibly mean.
This dream was so real, I could barely shake it off for several days afterwards. I could still feel the weight and the contour of his strong able body atop mine, his breath on my face, the texture of his long black hair, the loud beating of my heart.
One morning, there is that familiar quiet knock at my door. It is Alejandro.
This morning when he enters my room I am standing near the window, looking out at the morning sunrise. He walks up behind me and as before, he places his hands on my shoulders and brings them down to my hands. He pulls me close to him and I exhale.
His warm breath and soft lips brush the back of my neck. Then he lovingly whispers in my ear. ” Mi Señora, I thought you might like to have a bit of warm tea and crackers before we have our morning meal. Would you mind if I join you?”
“No, my dear Alejandro, I would not mind at all. Please join me.”
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