Is this love?

What could the problem be? I kept thinking when I suddenly

remembered what occurred between her husband and I the previous night.

Could she have found out? How did she get to know about it?

My adrenaline began pumping uncontrollably. I'm finished. I don't

want to go back to that life of poverty. Just this one chance I was

given, and I messed up.

I worked very hard for my aunt and her family. Whatever chore

she asked me to do, I did it thoroughly to the best of my human

capacity. I knew my purpose there and concentrated on it. That was

until my aunt's husband started making passes at me.

Whenever Johnny came home from work, he would always ask about

my well-being. He would often ask if I had eaten and how I spent

my day.

I was so free and open-hearted with him. I didn't take any of

his profound kindness towards me seriously as I took him to be a

lovely and caring father who would take care of other children just

like his own. I looked at him as a father figure.

In fact, we got so close to the extent I started calling him

"dad" while he called me his baby. My aunt wasn't aware of all this

happening. It didn't take long before the sugar-coated kindness and

affection revealed it's hidden agenda.

Norma Iris Pagan Morales was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

She comes from a very lovable family. Her parents, Juan

Jose Pagan Rodriguez, and Digna Morales Figueroa, now

deceased, always helped her with her projects as a writer

and teaching career. Norma had three siblings, Adelin

Milagros Pagan Morales, Juan Jose Pagan Morales, and

Julio Manuel Pagan Morales. Julio Manuel Pagan Morales

died on September 19, 1998, and Adelin Milagros Pagan

Morales died on February 17, 2023.

Norma did all her academic studies in New York City, Puerto Rico,

and Canada. She worked in the City of New York Police Department.

As an Educator, she worked in New York City Bd. of Education as an

English Teacher, in Puerto Rico Bd. of Education as an English teacher

and in the Puerto Rico Army National.

Norma has published books ten books: Proud of My Puerto Rican

Bequest, ¿Porque Soy Boricua? Poemas del Alma, Art in Written Form,

A Baffling Short Stories Collection, On Job in the Big Apple, Puerto

Rican Soldiers Serving with Pride, Nature's Rage in the Caribbean,

Boricua de Pura Cepa and You are the One.