𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐙, was a quiet girl. When you see the things she had seen, you either become angry, or you become quiet. And she
went quiet. She was born into a pour neighbourhood in Havana, Cuba. It was full of Spanish immigrants. She had no siblings, and although at times she wished she did, so she didn't have to go through life on her own, she was grateful. She was grateful that they didn't endure the pain she did when she was at home.

To Ileana, home was a strange word. For many, this first thing that would come to mind is family, love and safety. Well not for her. Ileana's father was what you called a "drunk" or an alcoholic. Her mother was too broken, too broken to love, feel and protect her only child. So for the first few years of her life, that's what she was, completely alone. That was until she met him.

𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐎 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐀, was not a quiet boy. He was barely a boy, having to become a man so young in his years in life. He had a younger sister Gina, who was too young to entertain him. Tony's father wasn't in the picture anymore by the time he had gotten to the age of ten. That hurt something in him. Tony did not like Fidel Castro. His neighbourhood was gone to the dogs even before he was born. Communism didn't work well for him. People couldn't survive in the economy, and all its policies. That led to anger, violence, and lots of emigration.

Ileana thinks she had been six when she met Tony. He was a few years older, nearing nine. She had just been hit by her father, this was nothing new, however the pain on her face was unbearable. She ran out of her house crying in pain, the streets were almost empty, only beggars on the street and people looking for a reason to fight.As she ran she bumped into something, making her stumble back and fall onto her bottom. This only worsened her tears.

Tony Montana had been out playing football with some neighbours when on his way home he had bumped into a girl, who was now crying on the floor. He quickly offered her a hand to help her stand but she was too busy holding her slightly bruised cheek. When he noticed this he swallowed. He wasn't really sure what to do, so he sat on the ground beside her, putting an arm around her comfortingly. He blamed it on the fact that his mother was pregnant, and that he imagined this girl could have been his new baby sibling, but god once he saw her face, he knew he was screwed.

Tony was screwed big time, as when he walked her home and spoke a bit with her, he realised just how quiet the girl was, and he felt himself wanting to protect her. She had confessed her father had hit her, and although having abusive parents wasn't rare in their neighbourhood, he was still feeling sick at the thought of a man laying his hands on her. He realised they only lived two minutes from each other, and Tony promised he'd come and visit her tomorrow. Ileana, who had barely opened her mouth the entire encounter, wiped her tears, looking up at him for a moment before hugging him tightly, muttering a quick "Gracias" and running back into her small house.

As the years went on heir friendship only got stronger. However Tony's anger did too, he lashed out at anyone whenever he got the chance. He was mad at the world, mad at Castro. By the age of thirteen he had killed someone. He had been fighting with a Cuban army officer, who had given him a bad scar that went all the way down the left side of his forehead, to under his eye, almost looking like a tiger he done it. He had killed the officer with a shotgun. He was thirteen.

Ileana remembers seeing him after it happened. He was very shook, and yet still so full of rage. She traced the scar with one of her fingers, swallowing at the sight of it. It looked painful, very painful. She bit her lip, not judging him for defending himself, how could she, she never had to courage to. She went up on her tippy toes, kissing the top of his scar gently making him smile at her. She was only going on twelve.

She was by far his favourite person. He loved absolutely everything about her. Her pretty face, her soft voice, her shyness. It was clear to him she'd be the women he'd marry when he grew up, he had his mind set on it. When she got a few years older, boys started sniffing around her, Tony was quick to end their curiosity, let's just say he had a certain..reputation when it came to her.

Ileana sometimes thinks God sent Tony to her. For now when somethings bad happened, or her father had one too many, he was her person. She always went to him, and he always kept her safe. His mother Georgina loved her too, she knew the girl was pure, something Tony lacked in his life. Ileana often babysat Gina, Tony's baby sister whenever Georgina wasn't at home. She loved that little girl so much.

When the two of them started getting older, they changed, their relationship changed. It started off as innocent kisses, when they'd walk home together. Sometimes even holding hands. However by the time they were in their late teens, things had really changed. Tony can remember the night he took her virginity. He was so gentle, which was something that usually felt wrong for him, but always right when with her. He'd held her close after, making sure she was okay. They trusted each other with their lives.

When Tony got a bit older he had joined the army. It was after he had been in and out of jail a couple times. Ileana was heart broken when he was deported to France. However it didn't last long as he soon was sent back to Cuba, to serve time for stealing, he and his new friend from the army Manny Ribera. It was obvious stealing was probably the least of what he had done in terms of illegality. Tony killed, everyone knew, even Ileana, who he always tried to protect. Although she knew it was wrong, she couldn't bring herself to judge him, he never did with her.

While Tony spent time prison with Manny, Ileana visited him as much as she could. She was probably the only thing keeping him going. She brought him the devastating news that his mother and his younger sister had left Cuba, gone to America, in hopes of making a life aware from danger. That's when Tony came up with a plan to leave too. While spending time in the army he and manny had been told about American capitalism. In their eyes, it meant you could make something of yourself, even in their situation.

So that's what they did. Manny, Tony and Ileana left Cuba, on a boat to America. Ileana had no regrets, her family weren't real family, those to men were her family. She had gotten close with Manny too, and realised he was actually quite kind, a little bit slow, but kind. And as long as her and Tony had each other, she'd never be afraid of leaving.