Eloísa vio a Máximo reunido con unos vecinos. “Gracias a Dios” pensó. Ya hacían varios días, aunque fuera mejor decir meses, que lo buscaba. Lo llamó, le mando recados, fue hasta su casa y fue imposible conversar con él. “Hoy sí me dará respuesta” especuló para sus adentros.
Máximo hombre alto, de ojos negros y pelo liso, era un conocido luchador social del Barrio La Igualdad. Muchos le solicitaban ayuda, y quienes no la solicitaban él se las ofrecía, para conseguir beneficios con los políticos de turno.
— Iba para su casa — exclamó Máximo acercándose. Eloísa no respondió, observó la gran cantidad de personas que le rodeaban. Máximo la abordó y ella se dedicó a oír. Durante más de veinte minutos él explicó las diligencias que había realizado. — Eloísa no se preocupe, tengo casi listo todo — dijo varias veces. — He conversado con el Alcalde y con la Gobernadora, solo faltan unos pequeños detalles.
Ella se alegró, le tomó la mano en señal de satisfacción, se despidieron. Caminó hacia su residencia. Al llegar a la entrada se detuvo. “Dios ha oído mis súplicas” se decía a sí misma. Máximo le hizo salir de sus pensamientos. La había seguido. —Casi se me olvidaba — vociferó el luchador social. Eloísa, algo confundida, preguntó a qué se refería. — El domingo que viene — exclamó Máximo— son las elecciones, necesito que usted vaya a votar, que nos apoye, así tendremos más peso con la gente de arriba.
Ya la gente sabe, Doña Maria, Anita, Luisa, Bernardino, todos están apoyándonos, porque eso es una garantía y la gente del barrio lo sabe. — No quiero ir a votar — dijo Eloísa — Yo voto muy lejos. Además, estamos en época de lluvia y es mejor estar en casa.
Máximo no aprobó lo oído, recalcó una y otra vez la importancia que tenía el ejercer el voto. — De allí pueden agarrarse los políticos para no ayudarla, repetía. Llevándose las manos a la cara, Eloísa no supo qué responder. Observando su actitud, Máximo prefirió retirarse, no sin antes exhortarla a pensar bien en la decisión que tomaría. “Hasta razón tiene Máximo” se dijo Eloísa abriendo la puerta “Nada me cuesta ir a votar”.
Con el transcurrir de los días, Eloísa se fue convenciendo de participar en las elecciones. Los hechos cotidianos le ayudaban a confirmar su decisión. Una noche, cerca de las dos de la madrugada, Eloísa sollozaba al lado de la cama. “Dios Santo, la lluvia es más fuerte cada vez” pensaba mirando sus dos hijos, quienes dormían ignorando la realidad externa.
El día de las elecciones, la lluvia amenazaba con desatarse. Eloísa, no pretendía salir, no quería dejar solo a sus hijos. Su sobrina no podía cuidarlos y no podía llevarlos con ella porque no tenía dinero suficiente. En su mente resonaban las palabras de Máximo: “De allí pueden agarrarse los políticos para no ayudarla”
Con algo de miedo se dirigió al centro de votación. La lluvia persistía y cada vez era más fuerte. Al llegar al sitio encontró a Máximo, este al verla, se acercó y la llevó donde se encontraban unas personas reunidas, la presentó y la acompañó a la puerta del centro de votación. Seguidamente de ejercer su derecho, varias personas la abordaron. Uno de ellos exclamó:
— Estamos muy agradecidos de su apoyo. El sacrificio ha sido mínimo y la ganancia mucha. Con su voto usted ha ganado una casa nueva.
Todos rieron. Mantuvieron tertulia durante buen rato. Máximo tomó varias veces la palabra para destacar lo importante que había sido él en la consecución de ese logro, el 95 porciento de las familias del barrio bajaron a votar. Eloísa estaba feliz, aunque en su corazón sentía un dolor, algo inusual. Mientras oía las pláticas decidió retirarse. Al momento de despedirse le dijeron:
— Mañana irán a buscarla. La reubicaremos. Le agradecemos estar lista.
Eloísa agradeció la colaboración. Se retiró a pesar de la intensidad de la lluvia. Deseaba llegar rápido a su residencia, su corazón latía con mayor intensidad, durante minutos sentía un apremio inexplicable.
Al llegar al barrio observó a la gente alborotada en las calles, estas estaban inundadas y muchas casas desmoronadas. Los vecinos al ver a Eloísa la rodearon, nadie dijo nada. El silencio vasto para que Eloísa estallara en llanto. Corrió a su casa y al llegar observó las paredes y el techo en el suelo, comisión de los bomberos y de protección civil sacaban de los escombros los cuerpos sin vida de sus dos hijos.
The elections
Eloísa saw Máximo meeting with some neighbors. "Thank God," she thought. She had been looking for him for several days, although it would be better to say months. She called him, sent him messages, went to his house and it was impossible to talk to him. "Today he will give me an answer," she speculated to herself.
Máximo, a tall, black-eyed, straight-haired man, was a well-known social fighter in Barrio La Igualdad. Many people asked him for help, and those who did not ask for it, he offered it to them, in order to obtain benefits from the politicians of the day.
— He was on his way home - exclaimed Máximo approaching. Eloísa did not answer, she observed the large number of people around her. Máximo approached her and she just listened. For more than twenty minutes he explained the steps he had taken. - Eloísa, don't worry, I have almost everything ready - he said several times. - I have talked to the Mayor and the Governor, only a few small details are missing.
She was happy, took his hand in satisfaction, and they said goodbye. He walked towards his residence. When he reached the entrance he stopped. "God has heard my pleas" she said to herself. Maximo brought her out of her thoughts. He had followed her. -I almost forgot - the social fighter shouted. Eloísa, somewhat confused, asked what he meant. - Next Sunday - exclaimed Máximo - are the elections, I need you to go and vote, to support us, so we will have more weight with the people at the top.
People already know, Doña Maria, Anita, Luisa, Luisa, Bernardino, they are all supporting us, because that is a guarantee and the people in the neighborhood know it. - I don't want to go to vote - said Eloísa - I vote far away. Besides, it's the rainy season and it's better to stay at home.
Máximo did not approve of what he heard, he stressed again and again the importance of voting. - That's where the politicians can grab hold of you to not help you, he repeated. Holding her hands to her face, Eloísa did not know how to respond. Observing her attitude, Máximo preferred to leave, but not before exhorting her to think carefully about the decision she would make. "Máximo is even right," Eloísa said to herself, opening the door, "It doesn't cost me anything to go and vote".
As the days went by, Eloísa was convinced to participate in the elections. Everyday events helped her to confirm her decision. One night, around two in the morning, Eloísa was sobbing beside her bed. "Holy God, the rain is getting heavier every time" she thought looking at her two children, who slept oblivious to the external reality.
On election day, the rain was threatening to come down. Eloísa did not intend to go out, she did not want to leave her children alone. Her niece could not take care of them and she could not take them with her because she did not have enough money. Máximo's words echoed in her mind: "That's where the politicians can grab hold of her so they won't help her".
With some fear she headed to the polling station. The rain persisted and was getting heavier and heavier. When she arrived at the site she met Máximo, who upon seeing her, approached her and took her to where some people were gathered, introduced her and accompanied her to the door of the voting center. After exercising her right, several people approached her. One of them exclaimed:
- We are very grateful for your support. The sacrifice has been minimal and the gain has been great. With your vote you have won a new house.
They all laughed. They kept chatting for a long time. Máximo took the floor several times to emphasize how important he had been in the achievement of this accomplishment, 95 percent of the families in the neighborhood came down to vote. Eloísa was happy, although in her heart she felt a pain, something unusual. As she listened to the talks she decided to leave. At the moment of saying goodbye she was told:
- Tomorrow they will come for her. We will relocate you. We thank you for being ready.
Eloísa thanked them for their cooperation. She left despite the intensity of the rain. She wanted to get to her residence quickly, her heart was beating faster, for minutes she felt an inexplicable urgency.
When he arrived at the neighborhood he saw the people in the streets in an uproar, the streets were flooded and many houses had collapsed. The neighbors surrounded Eloísa when they saw her, no one said anything. The silence was enough for Eloísa to burst into tears. She ran to her house and when she arrived she saw the walls and the roof on the floor, the firemen and civil protection commission were pulling the lifeless bodies of her two children out of the rubble.
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Traductor Deepl
