He was on his own again, and Lana seemed to agree.

The hospital appeared on the right. New and modest in comparison to the hotels, although a comfort to the potential guests with its clean presence. It was at least there. Access to healthcare is an important American tourist consideration.

He sat by the bed, he was now truly the doctor attending the patient, he could not hold back the tears. Lomita had contracted pneumocystis pneumonia, PCP. She was critically ill.

It was critical. He was critical of her being critical: the word had started to lose meaning.

Manita was allowed to be a constant presence by her bedside but Lomita had expressly given Ever visiting hours, hence his solitary journey; she found the emotion of seeing him too much and he had to be limited. The prognosis was not good, but she was content to be in Mexico, the country that had offered her salvation through her difficult years and now ultimately was responsible for the taking of her life. She had physically wasted away so much, her long journey from Los Angeles way down south had done her no good, it was necessary, but it had not helped her condition.

*

Their journey down had taken place five days earlier and had taken them three days.

It should under normal circumstances have been a pleasure. Manita and Ever shared the driving. They had crossed the border at Tecate, east of Tijuana, a much gentler border to cross, no hassle, it takes you through the wine country and it’s a four-hour drive to San Quintín on the Pacific coast. Ever was the only one who needed to fill in a visa document – there were no lines – it took minutes. Manita travelled on a Mexican passport and Lomita had Mexican residency. Their first stop, at the Jardines Hotel, at the end of a long dirt road, gave them a feeling of being able to breathe new air. It was quiet, being nearly midnight, with few people around. Lomita started to wake on their arrival and witnessed the beautiful driveway lined with palm trees that took them to the main building, where they were met by Carlos, who went to get Esmerelda from her bed: they were the owners and knew Lomita well.