#based on a real life adult i knew who’s mother had cancer and was prescribed medical marijuana and she would make her kids get high with her

[sorryiwasasleep]

Part of a larger fic, but can stand on its own and I wanted to share it:

Luisa & Alma

The burning in her chest and the warmth in her cheeks made Luisa feel like she was melting, in the best way possible.

Like an ice cube on a hot sunny day.

It was a Friday afternoon and the sky was clear and the birds were singing and she was sitting by a lake with her Abuela, both of them dangling their feet in the water.

They were both high as hell.

It was… an experience for sure for the girl.

Luisa had never even smoked before a few months ago and now she was sitting here with her actual Abuela sharing a joint.

If she thought too long about why she was getting high with her grandmother, Luisa’s chest would start to ache and she would burst into tears again the way she had when they’d first asked her to do this.

Abuela was getting older. It was a fact they all knew.

She was also getting weaker.

Sicker.

And things that used to come easy to her now brought her pain.

They could see it in every step she took, how she was slowing down.

So she coped how she could, and when Mamá’s food stopped helping her, Abuela turned to more natural substances, provided by Isabela.

She was relying on it more now.

But their grandmother also didn’t like to be the only person with her senses impaired, so she often asked the other adult Madrigals to join her.

When none of her children or suegros were available, she had turned to Isabela and Dolores.

Who had then wrapped in Luisa once it became clear she actually enjoyed the partaking of smoke sessions, and wasn’t just attempting and finding it not for herself, or doing so because she felt like she should.

So now here Luisa was.

High with her Abuela.

Abuela offered her the last of the joint and she took it.

As she blew out smoke, her grandmother started speaking.

“My Luisita. I see so much of your mother in you.” When Luisa turned, Abuela was surveying her with affection. She reached out with a shaking hand and patted Luisa on the cheek.

“So strong. So smart and insightful.” Abuela casts her face down, filled with shame.

“So willing to give up yourself for others.” Abuela looks back up at Luisa. “I’m sorry I didn’t see you for so long.”

It’s the first time Luisa has actually gotten a personal apology from her Abuela since everything has happened.

Abuela of course loosened the reigns and things are better now and Luisa has gotten some apologies, but they've been generic or to the family as a whole.

She appreciates this even if it makes her chest ache because well, she thinks Abuela might be trying to cover her bases as she gets weaker and Luisa hates it, because she’s longed for this apology, this remorse, but she also hates how its coming. Hates what she’s now fearing as each day passes.

She's not sure what they'll do when the day comes.

She prays it's not soon.

The apology is a lot.

Tears are immediately in Luisa’s eyes.

Abuela uses her thumb to stroke Luisa’s cheek and wipe away the first tears that fall.

“Abuela I—“

Abuela just shakes her head.

“No, no need to say anything. Unless you want to yell at me maybe.” She shakes her head again. “I don’t deserve forgiveness easily. I almost ruined us.” That last parts slips out as a whisper, but Luisa hears it.

She scoops her grandmother into her arms, which causes Abuela to let out a stunned cry before she relaxes into the embrace.

“Te quiero Abuela.” Luisa lets out through her tears.

She doesn’t forgive her grandmother for what she’s done in the past, but Luisa is more than willing to move forward. She doesn’t want to hold on to bitterness.

Luisa can feel Abuela stroking her back as she starts to hum.

It sparks a memory of when she was five years old and had just gotten her gift.

She’d dropped a brick on her own foot and was inconsolable over it, even though the physical pain was gone in an instant thanks to her madre.

Abuela had taken her into her room and they’d sat in her fancy rocking chair and she’d held Luisa tight to her chest and sang until her tears slowed.

Right now it makes more tears come to her eyes, even as Luisa holds her grandmother tighter.

She wants to cherish this.

Who knows how much longer she can?