Neophyte

Ancestors

Mitena lay on a cot as Victoriano forced her to. Her dry, tear-stricken face was imminent, but her eyes were still filled with tears. Victoriano sat beside her as he watched the flames light the interior of the kiche. It was difficult for him to soothe Mitena when he took her away from their daughter.

He remembered vividly when he saw his daughter's state: broken. Valentina and her mother were always close, even though they had their disagreements. When Mitena found her, she tried to reach her daughter, but Valentina violently pushed her away and kept moving whenever she could. Victoriano wanted to go to her, hug her, and beg for forgiveness for his failure as a father. Seeing his daughter's action made him realize that she didn't have the strength to forgive him.

Victoriano believed that he didn't deserve forgiveness; he would have preferred to take his daughter's pain. There were times when he wondered if what was happening was his punishment for everything he made his family go through. For all the Tongva he couldn't save. Tears slowly formed in his eyes, but he didn't have the strength to wipe them away.

Exhaustion.

That was what he felt. Victoriano was exhausted from being strong. It took a mental toll on him and his family. He often wondered what life would have been like if he had taken his family far from San Gabriel. 

Would his family have been safe?

Would they have been happier?

Would his children be married?

The questions overwhelmed his mind, and Victoriano felt he would have gone insane.

"Victoriano, Mitena?"

"Hm?" Looking up, Victoriano saw Metztli by the entrance of the kiche. "Metztli?" Victoriano wiped his tears away. "Forgive me, but Mitena is still not feeling well. I have been by her side since I worry about her health."

"I understand. May I enter? I have something important to discuss."

"Of course." Victoriano took a glance at Mitena, who was still lying motionless on her cot. He hoped that Mitena would make some movement or speak. Nothing. Still, he needed someone to speak with to distract him from the emotional pain. 

Metztli entered the kiche, went to Victoriano, and hugged him. Her actions surprised him. Victoriano slowly hugged her back. He needed a hug to feel that everything was going to be okay. "How have you been feeling, Victoriano?"

"Tired and guilty. My family has suffered because of me. I shouldn't have lied and abandoned them. I should have been a father to my children. They could have had a better life. I-"

"Tatahuei (Grandfather). You have to stop blaming yourself."

Victoriano didn't expect Metztli to call him 'tatahuei.' He knew some of the language since Mitena taught him a little bit. "What?" Mitena looked at Metztli, slowly becoming surprised by what Metztli said. 

"Tatahuei, that is what Valentina taught me when speaking to one's family."

Mitena slowly motioned herself up; Victoriano noticed, and he immediately went to her. "Mitena, you-"

"Valentina taught you?" Mitena asked in a faint whisper. 

"Yes. Guillermo and I visited Valentina." 

Mitena gasped and was about to go to Metztli, but Victoriano held on to her. "Metztli, why would you both go to her? Valentina is-"

"She needed someone to speak and understand her. Valentina needed reassurance and support. You two reminded her of the lies and the hurt you put Guillermo and her through. She wasn't going to believe in the assurance that you two were going to provide." The couple was silent, but Metztli continued, "I came to you because there is something else I need to tell you both. Guillermo and Valentina know the truth about my origin."

"Th-They know? How did they react?" Mitena asked. 

"Guillermo was shocked, to say the least. Valentina was silent, but I knew that she listened. I then sang her a song that has been passed down in my family for generations. Tonantzin."

Mitena gasped. "Th-That song I have sung to my children when they were children..."

Victoriano was silent as he listened. He slowly widened his eyes. "Metztli, what are you trying to say?"

Metztli had a gentle smile. "When I told you about my secret, there was something else I wanted to tell you both, but time had other plans. Mitena, remember how I reacted toward the rosary you wore and how I believed you took it away from me?"

"Y-Yes..."

"I had my theories on certain things, but I can now confirm them. I am both your descendant from the future."

The couple sat silently, neither of them blinked. Victoriano slowly let Mitena go; Metztli was their descendant. Another realization set it. "Wait, are you-?"

"I am also Valentina's descendant. She is currently pregnant."

Mitena gasped, covering her lips with her hands, horrified. "No! No! This cannot be! Valentina! Nocihuapil (My daughter)!"

Victoriano stood up as he scrunched parts of his hair. He then covered his face to cover his screams. 

Metztli bit her lower lip; it hurt her to see them in pain, but the truth would eventually be known. "I-I understand that the news is painful; Valentina knows, she had suspected it herself."

"Sh-She spoke to you!?" Mitena asked.

"Yes, but it took a while. I believe I know why I was brought here: to know the truth. Not only of my people but of my family history. I was chosen to know all of this." Metztli bit her lower lip. "I was chosen to see and feel and see everyone's pain. The history of my time has been manipulated, but I was brought here to bring it to light once I return home. "Please, don't stray me away..." Metztli motioned with her arms, pleadingly. 

Mitena looked at Metztli, the one whom she viewed as one of her own. It finally made sense why she felt so close to her. She was her descendant from the future. Mitena immediately went to Metztli and hugged her. Victoriano looked at the women; it was an emotional sight. Metztli, his descendant, his future granddaughter. He put a hand over his heart as he could no longer contain himself. He, too, went and hugged both of them.

It gave the couple hope that not only had their family survived, but Valentina had as well. 

"Valentina and Guillermo are together. Go and speak to them."

The couple eventually stopped hugging. "Metztli, we-"

"Victoriano, stop living in fear and uncertainty. Your children need you. Speak to them. Let out your heart. Be the father you always wanted to be." Metztli then looked at Mitena. "It's not too late. You both can fix your mistakes. Promise your children that you will be there for them. You all can live the way you always wanted."

Mitena and Victoriano looked at one another. "She is right, Victoriano. We have always run away. I am tired. Our children need us."

"Yes, both of you are right. Very well. Let us go to our children."