Chapter 33

Milagro ran to her room and slammed the door behind her, pouncing on her bed, the unopened envelope in her hand. She knew it could only be from one person and she was eager to read it. It had been a while since she wrote him and wasn't sure if he was ever going to respond, but he finally did, and she was overly excited. Surprised that her father didn't inquire about the contents of the envelope, she carefully opened the letter, sniffed it to see if she could smell his scent, which she couldn't and began to read.

My Love,

It has taken me quite some time to build the courage to write this letter to you. On many occasions, my heart filled with nervousness whenever I planned to touch the pen with this very paper that you are holding. Honestly, I don't recall writing this letter.

If you are reading this, it means I'm on my way to you and I can never step foot in Paraguay again. I'm very confident that President Silvay is using all his resources to locate me at this very moment. You have to be ready to leave the comfort of your home and run away with me - to marry! My new life has begun, and I want to share it with you. I dream of you, of our home, of our children. You have monopolized my thoughts ever since I left your presence. I too am deeply in love with you.

That night you asked me why I refer to President Silvay as Father Louis and not just father. The answer is rather simple. He is not my father.

It would be a curse to have a drop of his blood running through my veins. I've hated him since the very first day I met him.

When I was a young boy, President Silvay murdered my father in front of me. Shot him in the head during our fishing trip. Then he kidnapped me and raised me as his own. I was five years old. The man he murdered was my entire world. Half of my heart was ripped away. What was left of it was enough to get me to this point – Maria's wedding. I wanted to take what mattered most to him, just as he had done to me and there was no one walking this earth who he loved more than his daughter. Not even his wife, who I saw brandish a satisfying grin after seeing him try to comfort Maria as she lay on the floor in a pool of blood. I could sense her happiness at the thought of his heart finally being broken.

I waited 20 years for the right moment, when everyone's guard would be down. I didn't want anyone to inflict pain upon him other than myself. His death would have been an easy way out. As soon as Maria completed her vows, I completed mine by slicing her throat.

The image of his daughter's throat being slit from ear to ear, the blood flowing down her wedding dress, while she gasped for air will forever be engrained in his memory. Just like the image he left me of my father. It gave me great pleasure to hear him moan in agony as he held her closely, screaming for my capture as I fled the church. From the pit of my soul, I hope this day burns in his mind for the rest of his existence. Now he understands how it feels to have your family destroyed.

I'm a new person. The weight is lifted. I'm on my way to you Milagro. I pray that you understand, and we can start a new life together. I love you.

-Solono Rodriguez

With tears in her eyes, Milagro carefully folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. She climbed out of bed, went to her closet, grabbed the largest bag she could find, and began packing.

THE END