Neophyte

Dinner

The rest of the day became a blur for Metztli. It was difficult for her to concentrate on removing the husks from the corn while Valentina gave a lesson on the language. Valentina couldn't help but notice that Metztli looked thoughtful. "Amocualli (Something bad happened)?"

"Huh? Sorry, what was that?"

Valentina stopped what she was doing and sighed. "If you want to learn the language, you have to start speaking it. It is the only way you can become proficient."

"Yeah, but I'm barely learning, and the language is complicated."

"It is only complicated if you make it so. I want you to ask me questions on how to say words and responses." Valentina noticed that Metztli wasn't looking at her. Something was wrong. "Something is troubling your mind."

Metztli flinched as she removed the husk from the corn she held. The truth was ingrained in her mind; Guillermo and Valentina were the children of Mariana and Victoriano. What made it worse was that Metztli knew the truth; she didn't like to keep secrets.

Valentina gently shook her; Metztli violently flinched. "Oh, sorry about that. What were you saying?"

Valentina sighed while throwing her piece of corn into the wooden basket. "Never mind. It would seem you wouldn't be able to pay attention. What's troubling you?" She could tell Metztli looked uncertain. "And don't lie to me. I could tell that something was. Now tell me."

Metztli looked at the corn she held and felt as if the inside of her body were on fire. "I have been thinking a lot about my family lately. I'm slowly becoming homesick." She felt disgusted with herself.

"Oh, right, you were a traveling herbalist, though you haven't done much healing."

"I guess you could say I wasn't given much opportunity. I still miss my family." It wasn't an entire lie. Metztli felt homesick and missed her family. She didn't know how or why she was in the past, and how it was possible. Was it a possibility that something supernatural happened? Did the Mission have a secret portal or..."Is there a possibility that the souls of those who died in the Mission wanted to show me what happened in the history of the Mission?"

"Tell me about your family?"

"My parents wanted me to travel since they educated me. I know that for a woman, it is unheard of, but after they experienced much hardship, they wanted me to be better. You could say that they wanted me to live my life and let me go."

"Wait, are you saying your parents sent you away, alone?"

Metztli's parents would never send her away if she were in her timeline, but she had to be convincing. "Yes, though it was painful for them. My father was very ill and feared that he would eventually die. My mother was old. My parents felt that since it would only be a matter of time before they left this life, they wanted me to travel and try to make a life they never had."

She looked at Valentina, who sat silently and listened. "So...you do not know if your family is still alive?"

"No, but with the conditions they were in, I have a feeling that they are no more." Metztli let out a humorless laugh. She despised herself for lying; her parents were still very much alive, though her father was in the hospital. Her father was diabetic and didn't take care of himself as he should have.

Valentina held her hand.

Metztli couldn't believe it. The touch created a strong connection that was difficult to describe. "I cannot imagine being sent away like that, even if it was for a better future. I imagine that you have experienced dangers from traveling by yourself."