Neophyte

Father & Son

Victoriano finished bathing himself and was slowly changing into his robes. He noticed the many scars throughout his slight muscular body. The scars told parts of his story, from his time as a Soldado a his childhood. Victoriano remembered his turbulent childhood; his mother died giving birth to him. His father was a drunk who blamed him for his mother's death. He would occasionally be beaten whenever his father became drunk, and it got to the point that Victoriano ran away from home when he turned eleven.

He used to do odd jobs or beg on the street, refusing to go to an orphanage. Victoriano was found by the wife of a soldier who felt pity for him. When he was introduced to her family, which consisted of her husband and two daughters, he was accepted but still treated as a stranger. The matriarch treated him like a son, and when he came of age, Victoriano decided to travel to Las Californias. Since he grew up within a soldier's family, he easily became a Soldado de Cuera.

Las Californias wasn't the same as Spain since many areas were isolated. He faced many battles against many Natives, where he faced life and death scenarios. Victoriano realized that they only wanted their land and that their people were being abused.

There was loud banging outside his door that made him get out of his thoughts. Victoriano immediately went to open the door; Guillermo was on the other side. Guillermo looked distressed as he tried to regain his breath. Before Victoriano could respond, the young man entered as he scrunched his hair.

Something was wrong; Victoriano felt it in his bones. "Guillermo, what ails you?" he asked while closing the door. The young man suddenly grabbed Victoriano's robe and slowly pushed him toward the wall. "Guillermo!? What are you-!?"

"You lied to me!"

"What!?"

"Don't act like a fool, Bishop! Or should I say, father!"

Victoriano froze, his mouth agape. His blood turned cold; Guillermo knew the truth. "H-How!?"

"That's all you ask? How? I heard Mama and Metztli speak! I heard the truth! You're my father! It's the truth isn't it!?"

"G-Guillermo, I-"

Guillermo pushed Victoriano onto the wall while still holding onto parts of his robe. "Answer me! Isn't it!?"

Victoriano saw the anger, confusion, and hurt in Guillermo's eyes. He and Mariana lied to their children for all their lives. Guillermo heard the truth, and there was no point in lying to him anymore than they already had. "Yes. Es la verdad, hijo (It's the truth, son)." He finally called Guillermo his son. During his time as a Padre, he called him his son, a term used between a Padre and their disciple. Now, Victoriano was finally able to call him what he truly was, his actual son.

Guillermo slowly let go of his father and walked far from him. "My Mama told me about your history. You chose to go into the priesthood to protect us. Couldn't you have gone a different path besides this one? The fact that you took this life and lied to my sister and me! You made my Mama lie to us, knowing that she never wanted to do such a thing!" Guillermo was overwhelmed with emotions, but he felt betrayed more than anything. The betrayal was too much that some tears dripped from his eyes.

Seeing his son in pain because of his choices broke Victoriano's heart. "Y-Your right, I made your mother lie. I-I believed what I was doing was the right thing. I killed to protect the woman I love. I feared for your mother, you, and Valentina. I couldn't fathom what could have happened if we were captured due to our crimes."

"You protected Mama and-"

"My people would never see it that way. You have seen it all your life. The life of a Native is nothing. Even cattle are seen as precious."

"Yet, you made us see those realities when my sister and I were children." Guillermo scoffed in frustration. "My sister was right all this time. Your people were always the enemy. No matter how hard we try to speak and act like your people, we will be seen as animals. You taught me that god loves all, but does he? Or does he love the privileged?"

"Guillermo, you're angry and hurt. I never wanted to cause any of you pain. I tried to be a father to you and your sister, the best I could. I gave you both an education and ensured you were fed and protected. You all were able to live far from the Mission. Do you think you all would have the same freedoms if we hadn't taken this path? You all would have been slaves; no laws would have protected you if even you had my blood. I did this for the love and worry of a father!" Victoriano also shed tears. "When I held you both in my arms after your birth, it was the happiest moment of my life. I swore that I would do everything to protect my family, even if it meant being hated. There were many times when I wanted to leave this lie, take you all, and live far from here, but there would be no opportunities for you or Valentina. I have condemned you all to this hell."

Father and son were silent. Guillermo wanted to scream and tell his father that there was still no excuse to let them live a lie. Seeing his father's pain, Guillermo realized that he, too, suffered. Victoriano only wanted to protect them and give them a better life. He hated to admit it, but if they a lived differently, they wouldn't have been entirely safe or had better opportunities, even if they had been Mestizos. It was challenging to know what to feel. Guillermo slowly went and opened the door. "I will not say anything to Valentina; that is your sole responsibility." He walked away. "Once Valentina knows, she will never forgive you."

Victoriano stood silently as he heard the rain outside. He knelt on the floor and cried.