Neophyte

Nonantzin

Metztli felt as if she couldn't breathe; she finally told the truth. The truth that was hypothesized but finally proven.

Valentina was her ancestor. 

What Metztli despised was the fact that Pascual was also her ancestor. Looking at the siblings, she hoped that they believed her. 

Guillermo sat silently; his eyes never blinked. Valentina also sat silent; her eyes were still hidden in the shadows. "You...are Valentina's descendant?" Guillermo whispered. 

"Yes. I suspected that I was Mitena and Victoriano's descendant, but I didn't give much thought to which of you might have been my ancestor. I spoke with Toypurina about the truth of my origin, but she suspected the possibility. I was brought here by Tonantzin. " I still don't know why, but maybe..." Metztli looked at Valentina, who was still. "...she wanted me to know the truth about what happened in the Mission." Also, to know my family history."

"I-I still cannot believe this. You tell this to us, now of all times." Guillermo became thoughtful for a moment, remembering what Metztli had mentioned. "You said that you are my sister's descendant; does that mean...?" Guillermo slowly looked at his sister. His stomach clenched in pain. "No..."

Valentina slightly trembled. Guillermo and Metztli feared that Valentina would have a breakdown. "I'm so sorry. So sorry that you went through such trauma. My family and I didn't know much about our history or the Mission's. I am realizing why I was brought here: to know the truth. I will one day return to my time, and I will speak the truth of what happened to our people to you. I can't believe I lived in ignorance, ignoring how my people and family got to where we are. Valentina, nonantzin, I am so sorry."

It was difficult to keep her emotions to herself. Tears dripped from her eyes as her body trembled. She couldn't contain her emotions. Everything made sense as to why Metztli wanted to please Valentina and why she felt close to Mitena, Victoriano, and everyone else.

They were her family. 

Guillermo couldn't believe what she had told him, but his heart and spirit told him otherwise. She wasn't the type of person to lie about such things.  He glanced at his sister, who stopped trembling and looked away. Valentina was pregnant, and it was Pascual's, but she also held the future of her descendants, Metztli. Guillermo wouldn't have wanted his sister to carry the child since it would have been her choice. "Metztli, you are from the future."

"Yes. What I am telling you is the truth," she responded while wiping her tears. 

"How does the future look for our people?"

Metztli was momentarily silent. It was going to be difficult to tell the truth that their people lost their land anyway, but there was another truth. "Our people survived. Our people thrive as a community. From what my generation learned from our elders, our people have suffered much, but we have persevered. We are still trying to hold onto our culture and traditions. We are trying to relearn our tongue. I will help preserve it. I will help guide our people of the future to know the truth and to keep our traditions proudly."

Guillermo and Metztli looked at Valentina, who looked away and still covered herself. They knew that the truth was too much to take in. Valentina remained silent, and Metztli wanted to leave her alone to process everything until Valentina spoke. "Our...people...lose..."

"V-Valentina, you speak again," Guillermo said while containing his happiness and relief.

Metztli didn't want to lie anymore. "From what I learned, yes, our people lost their land. In the future, people from different countries will arrive and have descendants with different skin colors and languages. However, they also learned what happened to our people. People travel to learn history and truth. Our people have descendants who still live within our land. They help people learn the truth. Valentina, our people still live in the twenty-first century."

"Twenty-first century!? Uh, what century are we in now?"

"Probably the 18th century."

Guillermo was amazed as he slowly started to believe what Metztli was telling them, but it was up to his sister to decide what she wanted to believe. 

The fire's crackles echoed; Valentina remained quiet. Guillermo and Metztli were about to leave when Valentina said, "It makes sense..." in a faint whisper. "You were different." Valentina slowly gave Metztli her attention; her face was gaunt. "You looked like us, but you were never like us."

"I know. I lied to you all; I didn't want to, but I believed that none of you would believe me. When I met you, I felt the need to prove myself to you. I didn't know why, but now it made sense. I wanted your approval to prove that I am part of our people. Whatever you decide to do will be up to you."

"Metztli, if she-"

"Guillermo, enough. It's Valentina's decision, not ours."

Valentina didn't blink; she was emotionless. Her eyes were hollow, but something had awakened inside her. "Netemachiliztli."

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"It means hope," Guillermo responded. His lips quivered, trying not to cry again. He knew that his sister was slowly regaining her strength and hope. Guillermo then noticed his sister slowly turning. "Valentina..."

"I have been having dreams about you. You wore a dress of our people. You glowed in a yellow light where our people surrounded you. I also felt something within me. I knew..."

Metztli slowly moved forward using her knees. "You...knew that you were...?"

"Yes, but you confirmed my suspicions." Valentina looked down as she put a hand over her stomach. "I-I still don't know if I can bring this...to this world. This represents what was done to me, but seeing you and knowing that you have come from this union, it is-" 

Valentina couldn't finish; Metztli immediately hugged her. "I'm angry that you went through such suffering, and it's not your fault! I hate the fact that I am descended from that monster, but I am proud to have been descended from someone strong! By someone who has defended our people's way of life! I am proud to be descended from people who remind me of who I am and who I come from! You are not alone! You were never alone! Please, don't stray us away, Nonantzin!"

Hearing Metztli call her nonantzin made her heart skip a beat. It felt like an impossible dream, but it was reality. Metztli was her descendant. She was the living proof that she and her people's descendants have survived and will continue to survive. Valentina slowly lifted her arms and hugged Metztli. Then, Guillermo went and hugged them. Warmth overwhelmed her being, and it was almost too much to bear. 

Valentina cried as she gave herself into Metztli and Guillermo's embrace; they didn't let her go. They were together again.