HOUSTON – Angeles Dueñas said her heart sank the moment she learned of the deadly terror attack in Barcelona.
Dueñas is from Spain and co-owns Costa Brava Bistro in Bellaire.
She was home doing some things around the house while watching TV and grabbed her smartphone immediately and began texting a childhood friend who lives in Barcelona.
“She said, 'I was just there. I was coming from work and I knew that there was something going on but I didn't know what until I got home,’” Dueñas said.
She said her friend was clearly shaken based on the tone of the text messages.
Dueñas said watching the chaos unfold on television was too much to bear.
“My heart is racing. You wish you could be there to give everybody a hug and a kiss and reassurance and it's nerve-wracking not knowing what is going on in your country,” Dueñas said.
Dueñas said her people welcome and embrace everyone who comes into their country and will treat them like family if they cross paths with them.
Though they’ve dealt with terrorism before, Dueñas doesn’t want the resiliency of her fellow countrymen to get lost or overshadow the indescribable grief they’re dealing with tonight.
“We know how to give a good face to bad weather but that doesn’t mean the pain is not inside,” Dueñas said.
