Page 20
“Get up here, Viv.” She reached back and pulled Vivian up to the podium.
“I don’t know my actual birthday,” Louisa said. “Vivian Reyes, the social worker assigned to my case, chose it for me.”
“April Fools,” Vivian said into the mic. The crowd chuckled.
“I was named Louisa because L was the next letter of the alphabet, and May because it was the month I was left on the step outside the firehouse on Montrose. I was Baby Fordham for a few days until another newborn came through Safe Harbor that same month. Shout-out to Mitchell Ham.”
A whoop came from across the room.
“No fuckin’ way, Mitch!”
Vivian slapped the back of Lou’s head, and they were both laughing. God, she was magnetic.
“Even though she fell in love with me immediately,” Louisa said, ducking playfully, “Ms. Reyes wasn’t approved to foster me because she is gay.”
The audience quieted. Louisa glanced at Vivian, and I could see Has leaning toward me. “She wants to say ‘at least that’s the story she gave me,’” he whispered. I grinned, eyes on her.
“Still,” Louisa said, smiling, “she managed to nag the shit out of me my whole life.” Hasan snorted beside me, eyes shining. The crowd laughed along with us.
“Vivian handed me to another woman—a new, heterosexual woman—fourteen different times before I was eight and sent to a group home. She didn’t choose my case, but she chose to be the only constant in my life.”
Vivian wiped tears from her cheeks.
“Some of you may know that a potter’s mark is a ceramicist’s signature, right? Mine is the imprint of la Rosa de Bayahibe, from a necklace Vivian gave me on my sixteenth birthday.”
“I’m telling you about the woman who gave me my name in all the ways that matter, because without her, it wouldn’t be mine on this award. Not because she’s the sole reason I’m not in prison—though that’s true—but because after I failed to convince anyone to invest in Never Starve, the app that funds this program, Vivian remortgaged her family home…”
The applause grew, rising to a roar. Louisa had to shout to finish:
“… and put it all on the line for me, and for the children of New York City, as she has for thirty-four years…”
The room stood and cheered.
“Mamaíta, this is for you.”
10
Lost in the Wilderness
New York City, NY
Louisa
My eyes connected with Hasan’s before I even stepped down from the stage. He was weaving through the tables to get to me, happiness radiating off of him. I was so glad I asked him to come. I would have been devastated to do this without him.
He scooped me up into a bear hug and lifted me off my feet, telling me how much he loved me and how proud he was. I caught Will’s eye over his shoulder, and he raised his glass.
The adrenaline that had been keeping me upright drained out all at once. I clung to Hasan, my arms and legs shaking.
“I cried my eyes out, Lou. I probably soaked Will’s shoulder,” Has exaggerated. “Your speech was beautiful, babe. You nailed it. Not a dry eye in the house.”
“They just told me to be ready to talk about the app,” I laughed. “Assholes.”
We made our way back to their table. Will stood as I approached and pulled me into his arms. I pressed my nose into the side of his neck and felt him kiss my hair. 10/10 First hug. He rubbed my back and pushed me away, hands on my upper arms, to look at my face.
“Why the fuck have we been bullshitting about nothing every day when you’re, like, doing God’s work and shit,” he said, eyes dancing. “I could have been bragging to my mom all this time.”
“I already know how much of a nerd boner you have, Will. Gotta leave room for the other girls, or they’ll shiv me in a Boston alley and throw my body in the tall grass.”
