Chapter 2 Miguel

Once they settled into his sports car, Uncle Javier cranked up the air conditioning, creating the freeze. He made a quick stop at the walk-in Medi-prompt to have Miguel checked out. The doctor's assessment confirmed multiple bruises and a swollen lip, but thankfully, there were no signs of fractures or sprains. They picked up his pain medication at the pharmacy, then they were back in the car with the air blasting again.

Miguel knew the city lights receding in the rearview mirror hid the darkness where he'd been jumped. A shiver ran down his spine despite his safety inside the car. He winced as he shifted in his seat, the stiff leather offering little comfort to his bruised ribs. His face throbbed in time with the relentless New York traffic. He glanced over at his uncle, who had a furrow etched between his brows despite the Bob Marley tunes blasting through the speakers.

"You alright?" Uncle Javier spoke over the music. His voice was gentle despite the volume.

Miguel managed a weak nod, the bruises on his ribs protesting. He wasn't sure what surprised him more, the beatdown or finding out his gruff, stoic uncle had driven all the way from Queens to collect him.

Miguel's exhaustion caught up with him, and he dozed off. He woke up when Uncle Javier pulled onto the coastal highway. The beach materialized before them, a vast stretch of sand. Miguel rolled down his window to smell the fresh salty air and delicious foods.

"Whoa!" His earlier aches were forgotten. Seaside Heights, a kaleidoscope of bright hues, unfolded before them. The iconic roller coaster, "The Hydrus," dominated the skyline with its lime green lattice. He and Maria had ridden it many times on family vacations. The screams of the delighted riders and the rhythmic thump of bass music from the boardwalk filled the air.

Uncle Javier laughed, pulling into a crowded parking lot. "Told you that you'd like it."

Miguel stretched his stiff muscles and leaned out the window. The breeze carried the sweet scent of cotton candy and pizza. The boardwalk stretched before him like a carnival come to life. Gaudy signs advertising games of chance and flashing neon lights competed for attention. People of all shapes and sizes thronged the walkway, their laughter and chatter a symphony of summer.

"This is amazing!" A grin split Miguel's bruised face. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this carefree.

Uncle Javier tapped him on the shoulder. "This is for you. You deserve a break." His gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of understanding passing between them. Miguel knew Uncle Javier remembered too, the weight of their shared past a silent bond. "Just stay out of trouble, alright? This beach town isn't exactly Sleepy Hollow."

Miguel nodded, his appreciation swelling. His uncle wasn't just offering a vacation; he was offering a chance to heal, a chance to forget, even for a little while. For the first time in a long time, Miguel allowed himself to believe he could.

"If my father could see all that you've done for us, he'd send many blessings."

He nodded. "I got you a room for the summer. Then you can go back to Princeton."

"I'll try to get a job as soon as I heal."

Uncle Javier handed him a credit card. "This is for your food and personal expenses." He paused when Miguel grinned. "I put your name on the card, so you'll have no problems. I'm proud of you. You're the first one in our family to receive a scholarship."

The corners of Miguel's mouth lifted into a shy smile as his face flushed with warmth from the praise. He didn't like to be the center of attention, too shy for anyone to focus on his positive traits.

"Let's get you settled in."

They moved towards the boardwalk, Miguel practically buzzing with anticipation. As they strolled to the hotel, which was conveniently located right on the bustling boardwalk near the rides on the Casino Pier, they continued to talk.

"Do you know why I brought you here, Miguel?" He paused. "This isn't just a vacation. You lay low for a while. You hear me?"

Miguel nodded, a lump forming in his throat. His uncle had spent most of his life filling the void left by his deceased father. A wave of gratitude washed over him, pushing back the fear and the pain.

"Thanks, Uncle Javier. Really."

His uncle's gruff exterior softened further. "You're family, Miguel. Always have been. That's what family's for." His gaze turned serious. "But listen to me. You stay out of trouble down here. I know what it's like to lose someone close. Don't make me go through that again."

"I won't. I'm going to work and I'll be careful."

"You have enough to cover the two months."

Miguel winced as he shuffled beside Uncle Javier to the inside of the hotel. A throbbing ache pulsed in his ankle—a souvenir from the beatdown along with the bruises.

As he stood in the lobby, the glaring fluorescent lights highlighted the fresh scrapes on his face. He tried to ignore a man with gorgeous ginger hair blatantly staring at him from a plush armchair in the lobby. The man embodied a blend of rugged charm and quiet strength. Now and then, their eyes met, and the man smiled at him. He couldn't stop admiring this ginger-haired man and wanted to smile back, but feared it might cross a line with his uncle, so out of respect, he kept a straight face. Miguel didn't want to flirt with a stranger in front of his uncle. Taking any action towards the man would push too many boundaries. His uncle had accepted he was gay, as his mother and sister had, but Miguel knew not to disrespect them.

"Sit down while I check you in," Uncle Javier said.

As Miguel settled into his seat, he found himself again captivated by the handsome gentleman with ginger hair. He's so hot! He'd make a perfect daddy, but he didn't know if the man was gay; let alone a daddy. The strikingly handsome man continued to gaze at him without speaking a word. His gray eyes held a faint undertone of sadness, touching Miguel in a way he didn't understand.

Uncle Javier gestured for Miguel to come to him after he had checked Miguel in. Before Miguel moved, he gave the man one last look, then limped at a faster pace to his uncle.

"Slow down there, Miguel," Uncle Javier rumbled, letting Miguel lean on him for support. "Those punks didn't mess you up too bad, did they?"

Miguel grimaced. "I'm fine." He hated the defeated tremor in his voice. Leaving Brooklyn, his home for the past twenty years, felt like a bitter defeat. Yet, a flicker of hope ignited in his chest. "Are you sure this hotel room thing will work? It's kind of expensive."

Uncle Javier laughed at Miguel. "No amount of money is too much to keep you safe. Besides, you'll only be here for the summer. You're returning to Princeton at the end of August."

Miguel yearned to believe he'd be safe here without friends or family. Brooklyn had been a constant battle—dodging gangs, ignoring the lure of petty crime, and feeling guilty he was in college while his mother and sister worked and struggled. A summer away might be a chance to focus on working at a summer job in peace.

The elevator doors pinged open, and Miguel hobbled in with Uncle Javier close behind. A pang of sadness squeezed his heart. He'd miss the volunteer translation job in the city, the rhythmic chatter of his mother and sister planning meals, and the familiar shouts and laughter echoing through the fire escape of friends he had grown up with. But he hung onto a sliver of hope.

As Miguel crossed the threshold of his room, he winced from the persistent aches in his body. The hotel room was decorated in the blue hues of the sea and the color of sand. As he moved further in, the scent of salt and sand filled his senses, a stark contrast to the smell of Brooklyn's exhaust and concrete he was used to. The Seaside Heights boardwalk buzzed below, a symphony of laughter and chatter that made the corner of his lips twitch upwards.

He approached the window, the pain from the beatdown momentarily forgotten, as his eyes drank in the sight of the Atlantic Ocean. Its vastness stretched beyond the horizon, enormous waves dancing and crashing in a rhythmic lullaby. Here, on the boardwalk, he felt an unexpected peace. The ocean, a constant in the world's chaos, soothed his troubled thoughts.

As Miguel turned from the window, his heart swelled with gratitude. He would cherish the freedom the ocean view from his window promised.

"Well, Miguel, is it suitable?"

"More than suitable. I love it."

"It pleases me to see you smile. I need to leave. Stay safe." He hugged Miguel.

"Thanks."

After Uncle Javier left, the emptiness of the room overwhelmed him. His head throbbed and everything else was hurting too, so he lowered gingerly onto the bed to rest, telling himself the noise from the boardwalk would die out—they had to all go home at some point.