Neophyte

Week

The whole week came and went. 

Metztli couldn't believe that the week was already over, and it was time to return to the Mission. So much happened throughout the week. 

When the adolescent girl and her child died, the village held a funeral pyre. Since the adolescent's parents were dead and had been buried in an unknown location, they decided to cremate her ashes so that her spirit could flow toward the sky. They believed that Chinigchinich (the sky-chief deity) would guide the deceased to help guide the living or would be given the gift of rebirth.

After the funeral, the villagers were silent for two days; Metztli couldn't help but notice that Esteban and the Soldados wouldn't come close to the village. She remembered Mariana mentioning that a Soldado raped the adolescent girl and she became pregnant. Metztli wondered if Esteban knew that Soldados would do atrocious acts toward women and the Tongva in general. 

She didn't want to think that Esteban was capable of doing deplorable acts; he seemed to be a man of values and respect. Throughout the week, Metztli and Valentina frequently met to teach and train one another. Guillermo also assisted whenever he could, and he didn't want to mention too much of what happened.

Guillermo also assisted Valentina in teaching Metztli more about the language. Metztli ensured to take notes whenever Valentina gave her lectures about the Tongva language; she felt closer to her culture. She knew that her people in her era had tried hard to decipher the language they had lost, but with everything she was learning, Metztli believed she could help her community bring back their language. 

When the end of the week finally arrived, Toypurina informed the group that she would stay in her village. 

Metztli was packing her belongings when she heard someone walking behind her. Turning around, she said, "Mariana."

Ever since finding the truth, Metztli couldn't bring herself to speak with her. It was difficult since Metztli knew a secret that could be devastating to Guillermo and Valentina. However, she didn't want it to cause a rift between them. "I'm almost done, Mariana."

Mariana stood silently, holding her hands together. "I am sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"For you to have to know the truth in such a manner. I had hoped that I would keep this until my dying day, but fate had other ideas."

Metztli closed the wooden chest. "You still don't understand, Mariana. You shouldn't be apologizing to me, but your children—you and Victoriano. You two made Guillermo and Valentina believe that their father died."

"I know. I also wanted to thank you for being close to Valentina. She tells how much you have taught her and how happy she is teaching you our language. I haven't seen her so happy in so long." Mariana looked down at her hands. "Perhaps you're right. Victoriano and I have shielded and protected our children to the point that we have pushed our fears onto them. I-I will tell my children the truth, but some things must be done in the Mission."

"I know it will be hard for them, but I know they will eventually come around and understand why you two did what you did. D-Do you still love the Bishop?"

"I do."

"Love will be enough. Love has gotten you all to survive." Metztli saw the others finishing putting the last boxes on the wooden cart. "Come on, we don't want to keep the others waiting."

Esteban and the Soldados were also seen gearing up their horses. Esteban noticed Metztli, and he hesitated over whether or not to go to her. It had been a couple of days since they had spoken. 

"Good morning, Esteban."

"Oh, good morning, Metztli. Let me help you with that." He went to her, grabbed the wooden chest, and put it on the wooden cart. Esteban then assisted Mariana with the bags. "I hope you are doing well."

"Yeah, I am. I hope you're feeling well, too. I haven't seen you in a while, and I was worried."

Esteban massaged the back of his neck. "I was occupied with guarding the village. Also, after what happened, I didn't want to cause tension within the village or to you."

The two looked at one another as Mariana decided to leave them alone while she and her children got on the wooden cart. "So much happened within the week, and to be honest, I am leaving here with confusion and doubts rather than peace. Going to the Mission slowly made sense. Quite a cruel way of looking into things, isn't it?"

"Sometimes I feel the same way. Still, I am happy that you don't, well, hate me."

Metztli raised an eyebrow. "Hate you? Why would I do that?"

"Because of this," he responded while motioning to his uniform. 

"The uniform doesn't define who you are; it's your character and actions," Metztli said as she gently put her hand over his heart."

His face felt warm.

"Hey, it's time for us to go," Valentina announced while watching everything unfold.

The two cleared their throats. "Right." Esteban assisted Metztli onto the wooden cart, and he then got on his horse with his men. Manuel sat in front of the cart with Guillermo and commanded the animals to go onward.

Metztli looked back at the village and saw Toypurina, the Chief, and other villagers standing together. Many waved their goodbyes. Toypurina watched silently as the group went and wrapped her arms around herself. "We will see each other again very soon; the Gods have deemed it.