"That…was intense!"
Raf stared in disbelief at Miko's adrenalin-fueled outburst and stammered, "Wh-what…?"
Jack was absolutely livid. He stabbed an accusing finger at Miko and snarled, "It's your fault we're stuck in this intensity! What were you thinking, Miko?!"
Miko shrugged indifferently, "Did I ask you to follow me?"
Soon after they had first become aware of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons, the three young humans now found themselves hiding from the alien enemy on board the warship Nemesis. Tensions were running high and Jack suddenly found himself completely out of patience with Miko's antics.
"You wanted us to be a band! Doesn't that usually mean playing together?"
"Well…maybe I decided to go solo!"
"Well maybe I have some regard for your safety!"
Miko huffed, "Oh, I'm sorry…is your name Optimus?! You can leave my protection to Bulkhead, thank you very much…!"
Unseen by his two arguing friends, Raf cast worried glances back and forth between Jack and Miko. He lowered his head and clenched his trembling fists before finally screaming at the top of his lungs, "LOOK! STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU!"
Raf abruptly ran away from the shocked teenagers and stopped a short distance away. He sat down, hugging his knees as he struggled to keep from crying. Embarrassed by their actions, Miko and Jack exchanged an apologetic glance and quickly rejoined Raf's side.
Jack did his best to console his younger friend and gently murmured, "Oh, hey…hey, Raf. Raf, it-it's okay."
Miko laid her hand on Raf's shoulder and smiled reassuringly.
"Yeah…we're gonna be fine."
…
Miko blinked rapidly as she snapped out of her reverie of the past.
Slowly she began to put together the pieces. Since yesterday Miko had wondered why she felt such a strong sense of déjà vu from the way Raf reacted whenever he had witnessed his parents fighting. Now she knew. It was clear to her that it had been the exact same reaction as his outburst back on the Nemesis. Granted, at that time he had been in a terrifying situation and was obviously frightened, but now Miko was convinced that her argument with Jack was what had pushed Raf over the edge. It had simply reminded Raf too much of what he already experienced on a regular basis at home.
This had been going on for years and she never even knew.
Her eyes blurred with tears and she gave up trying to read the order of the service detailed in the Tridentine Missal. Miko dabbed at her wet eyes with a small cloth before she quietly returned the book to its resting place in the pew in front of her. Hoping to be as inconspicuous as possible, she channeled her inner ninja and risked a glance around Raf's family church to see what was happening.
Most of the parishioners were receiving Communion during the special Mass for All Souls Day. Even though she wasn't Catholic, Miko knew that she was still welcome to join the other communicants and receive a blessing from the priest. However after what had happened yesterday evening, a blessing was the absolute last thing she felt like she deserved.
Miko felt even worse knowing that Raf refused to receive the Eucharist. He knelt beside her as he prayed fervently for God's forgiveness. It had been some time since his last confession and in addition to feeling like he wasn't in a state of grace, he also felt responsible for the current situation between his parents. Miko knew he didn't blame her for anything and she treasured him for that.
She gingerly pressed the pads of her fingertips against her temples and slowly massaged in tiny circles, attempting to soothe a massive headache which had plagued her since yesterday. She had taken several painkillers earlier but they hadn't even put a dent in it. Forcing herself to concentrate through the haze of pain, Miko fought to recall when it had first flared up. After a minute she finally remembered that it started after the blowup between Raf's parents when he had slowly recovered from his recent attack.
Miko suspected that something was definitely off when Raf had begun to act oddly, like he couldn't clearly remember what had happened only moments earlier. He had just stared blankly at her as if the memory of the last several minutes had been wiped clean from his mind. If Miko didn't know any better, she would almost swear that Raf was suffering from some weird kind of amnesia. The only thing he seemed to know for sure was a vague awareness that his parents had been fighting again. It was all very strange but Miko knew better than to push too much, because when she had asked Raf to try to remember he had grimaced in severe pain. Stranger still was when she felt a sharp twinge herself.
It didn't stop there. In that instant Miko had seen a sudden flash of crimson, in which everything appeared to have been bathed in blood. The plaintive sound of a child's cries filled the air and Miko was filled with an overwhelming sense of dread. Just as quickly as it had begun the nightmarish vision abruptly ended.
The only evidence remaining as proof that it had happened at all was a dull residual headache which had gradually intensified over time. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize something much deeper was going on. It wasn't a hallucination, that much was certain. The whole thing had almost been like Miko had experienced one of Raf's memories through their shared sparkbond, but that couldn't be it. There were no secrets between the young lovers, only a raw, bold honesty that neither was afraid of or shrank away from. However, something was definitely there and Raf was apparently blind to it.
Miko glanced over to her side and quietly observed the young man she loved. As bad as she felt, Miko suspected that Raf was hurting even worse. She knew that Raf also suffered from a borderline migraine headache but he had still stubbornly insisted on attending Mass.
Pilar sat to his opposite side. Raf's older sister looked very tired, which wasn't surprising when one bothered to consider just how much exhaustive effort she regularly put forth attempting to keep the tenuous peace between their parents. The rest of the large family sat nearby, and only two members of the closely-knit band were conspicuously absent from the service.
Miko could see that this thing was tearing Raf's family apart. She desperately wanted to help but didn't know how. As she wracked her brain for an answer to their dilemma, she happened to remember a casual conversation that she once had with her beloved guardian Bulkhead.
Look, Miko…before I became a warrior I was a laborer…construction. I can build stuff, I can break stuff…and that's it.
I love breaking stuff! I wanna be just like you, Bulk!"
She grinned. Taking it as a sign from the heavens, Miko vowed to do just that. Like Bulkhead, she would do the opposite of her volatile nature as a Wrecker and help put things back together again.
"Ite, Missa est."
Miko jumped slightly, chiding herself for not paying better attention during the service. As the priest recited in Latin from the Last Gospel, she couldn't help but be slightly envious of Agent Fowler's mastery of various languages and wondered if she should add Latin to her own list.
Mass ended when the priest smiled and said to the congregation, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." As one they responded, "Thanks be to God."
Miko followed closely by Raf and his family as they moved to exit the church. Before leaving, Pilar stopped to speak with Father Marcus, the priest who had led the service.
"Gracias, Padre Marcus. It was a wonderful Mass today."
"Thank you, Pilar. I…couldn't help but notice that your mother and father aren't here this morning. They aren't sick, are they?"
Pilar sighed, "Things are bad, Padre…I mean, really bad. You know how they argue almost constantly, but last night's blow-up was one for the record books." She slowly shook her weary head.
He asked quietly, "Are you all right, Pilar?" Miko could clearly see the honest concern in Father Marcus' eyes.
"I'll be okay…I'm just worried about them. Mama left and spent all night at the cemetery, crying next to Grandfather's grave. I know that especially during this time of year it's actually normal for people to do stuff like that, but Mama's making herself sick. Papa stayed up during the night, worrying about her the whole time. When we left this morning he had finally managed to fall asleep on the couch downstairs, but Mama was still at the cemetery."
"I figured something was wrong. In all the years I have been with this parish your parents have never missed a Mass on All Souls Day…"
Pilar nodded in agreement, "Most of the time things eventually just fizzle out and go back to what constitutes as normal at our house, but not this time."
Father Marcus slowly rubbed his bare scalp and muttered, "Those two are going to make me lose what little hair I have left…" Pilar stifled a snort and couldn't help but smile. He continued, "Pilar, sometimes God will allow us to go through periods of trial and tribulation. We may not always understand His reasoning, but we should remember to hold onto our faith that He has our best interests at heart. Don't worry…I believe this will all work out in the end. In the meantime, I will be praying for your family."
Pilar hugged him and grinned with relief, "Thank you, Padre. That means more than you will ever know."
In the background Miko silently wondered about faith and prayer. Unbidden, more memories began to bubble to the surface of her inquisitive mind. Each fragmented memory was a piece of an enormous puzzle, and when she tried to put things together it only made things more confusing. She clearly remembered how distraught she had been when Jack's mother was in a deathlike coma and how Raf tried to console her by talking about faith. Miko was desperate to help in any way possible and urgently asked him to show her how to pray for their dear friend. Then there were all those times when Raf had been badly injured and Miko unexpectedly found herself praying to a God that she wasn't even sure existed. She suddenly shivered when she realized that all those prayers had been answered.
She was so tired of not knowing for certain. That was going to change, one way or another.
Miko could tell from Raf's pained expression that he felt terrible. She sympathetically rubbed the back of his neck and quietly murmured, "Why don't you let Pilar take you home, Raf? You barely got any sleep last night and you look like you could use the rest."
Raf adjusted his glasses and blinked uncertainly, "What about you?"
"I…I just have to take care of something first. Don't worry, Raf. Your house is only a couple of blocks away from here and I need the exercise." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and smiled reassuringly, "This shouldn't take long so I'll be right behind you, okay?"
"O-okay."
Miko watched Raf and his family drive away before she turned to go back into the church.
Passing by the vestibule, Miko could see that the interior was empty and hesitantly approached the sanctuary up front. As she slowly made her way past the rows of pews, she paused for a moment to study the plaques that illustrated the story of the crucifixion. Moving on she cast sideways glances at the large stained-glass windows lining the walls and at the statues that honored religious figures. She finally stopped and turned her full attention towards the main altar. A large crucifix was placed prominently overhead, while the altar itself was covered with cloth and lit with candles. The consecrated bread and wine from Communion had been placed on the Tabernacle just behind the altar.
Miko drew a deep breath as she pondered her surroundings. It was all so darn frustrating. The only thing she knew for certain was that she wasn't certain about any of this. However, something deep within her conflicted heart began to stir and before she knew what was happening she began to bend her knee in front of the altar.
"Aren't you Pilar's friend?"
Miko practically squealed as she jumped back to her feet. Father Marcus attempted to hide a subtle smile as she shakily faced him.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you…Miko, right?"
She suddenly felt a flush of embarrassment and hung her head low. She finally shrugged, "Guilty as charged."
"Please…don't feel awkward or anything. That was actually some impressive genuflecting you had going on there."
Miko shrugged again, "What can I say? It's not my first Mass. Besides, I just wanted to show my respect." She forced herself to look up and smiled sheepishly, "Look, I don't mean to bother you or anything. If you're busy I can always come back later."
He shook his head and smirked, "Only if you consider me trying to decide what to have for lunch as 'busy.' It's fine, though. I need to cut back on the calories anyway."
Miko snorted and relaxed a bit as she leaned against one of the nearby pews. Father Marcus sat facing her and paused for a moment before asking, "So…what can I help you with, Miko?"
She quirked a curious eyebrow, "You do know I'm not Catholic, right?"
He smiled, "Nobody's perfect."
"I-I'm sorry, I just didn't think someone who wasn't a member of the Catholic faith could go to Confession…"
"Somehow, I don't think you came back here to seek absolution for your sins. However, it's obvious that something is bothering you. If you need to talk, I'm willing to listen."
Miko huffed, "Where do I start…? Ever since Raf and I arrived here, things have been insane between his parents! I don't understand the whole story but whatever it is it's tearing the family apart, and it's making my boyfriend physically ill! To be honest, I'm not feeling too great myself! I mean, it's probably 'cause this whole crazy mess is partly my fault! I should've known better and just kept my mouth shut around his mother! Believe me, I get it that I'm not good enough for her son, but I never expected her to flip out like she did! C'mon, she didn't have to throw the fact that I'm not Catholic in my face! I mean, I'm trying really hard to wrap my head around the whole religious thing but I'm just so confused, y'know?! And another thing…!" Suddenly Miko caught herself in mid-rant and panted as she stared wide-eyed at Father Marcus. He patiently smiled back at her.
She bonked herself on the head and murmured, "Well, they do say confession's good for the soul."
He chuckled, "They do, indeed." His kindly demeanor took on a more serious aspect as he continued, "Let me see if I got this straight: you and young Rafael came down to Mexico to visit and somewhere along the way you accidently let it slip that you two are romantically involved, and this caused a nasty flare-up between Raf's parents that quickly escalated out of control." He stopped and asked, "How am I doing so far?"
Miko couldn't help but be impressed. "Wow, you're good."
"What can I say? Years of experience."
"Yeah, that's pretty much it in a nutshell."
"Well, Miko…I hate to break it to you but you're not responsible for this situation. Unfortunately, this has been going on for several years now. Granted, when Mrs. Esquivel discovered the truth about you and her son I imagine it was probably like throwing a match into a fireworks factory." He smirked, "She is quite the handful, isn't she?"
Miko giggled, "Believe it or not, people say the same thing about me."
"However, as you said earlier there's more to this story…a lot more."
"Does this have anything to do with Raf's grandfather…?"
Father Marcus smiled sadly, "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I cannot say."
Miko sighed, "Let me guess…Seal of the Confessional, right?"
"Are you sure you're not Catholic?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." Miko leaned her folded arms against the pew in front of her and slowly laid her aching head down. She breathed deeply as she stared thoughtfully at the crucifix over the altar.
Following her gaze, Father Marcus watched her carefully for a moment and offered, "The crucifix is a very important part of being Catholic. It drives home the significance of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and what He did…how He suffered and died in the worst way imaginable, with His body beaten and whipped, His hands and feet nailed to a cross, a crown of razor-sharp thorns pressed into His head…the crucifix is a visual reminder that our sins are no small thing."
In a very small voice, Miko timidly asked, "Wh-why would someone like Him willingly go through all that…for someone like me…?"
"He chose to endure everything He did because the terrible price of sin is eternal separation from God the Father…because the Son of God was willing to be that perfect sacrifice to take away our sins…because God so loved the world that He gave us His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Tears slowly trickled down Miko's cheeks as she listened intently to his words.
Father Marcus finished by saying, "We believe that God raised Jesus back to life and one day, He will return and we will spend eternity with Him. Until then, we must have faith and follow the example that He set by serving God, our family, and our neighbor."
Miko wiped her eyes and managed a tiny frustrated smile, "There's that word again…faith. You have no idea how many times I've heard that lately. I'm sorry, I-I just don't know how in the world I'm supposed to blindly believe in something that I can't even see."
"Let me ask you a question, Miko. Have you ever seen the wind? I know I haven't. I see the effects of the wind but I've never seen the wind."
Miko pondered that for a moment and finally whispered in awe, "Whoa."
Father Marcus grinned, "Pretty cool, huh?"
She giggled, "Y'know, you sure don't talk like a proper priest…"
He smiled back and said, "I've always been something of a black sheep among my peers. Personally, I don't agree with the church's stance regarding the emphasis on ritual rather than relationship. To be honest, I've lately been giving some considerable thought to leaving the priesthood."
"What, seriously…?"
Father Marcus nodded solemnly and answered, "I've been praying about it for a long while and I feel like God is leading me in another direction." He abruptly stood up and said, "But enough about me. What about you, Miko?"
Miko also rose to her feet and smiled, "I think…I've got a lot to think about. Listen, thank you for listening and all. I really appreciate it, Father Marcus."
"It was my pleasure, Miko. If you need me for anything else, please let me know."
…
Sometime later, Miko was seated next to Raf as he lay in bed in one of his family's spare rooms. He had dark circles under his bloodshot eyes, his gaunt physical appearance even worse than before. As she watched over him she slowly stroked her fingers through his hair, hoping to somehow soothe Raf's stabbing headache.
He groaned, "Scrap, why does it keep hurting so bad…?"
"I know, baby…I'm sorry, I wish I could take the pain away and make it all better."
Miko debated internally for several moments. Seeing no other way, she finally spoke.
"Raf…? Wh-what exactly happened to your grandfather?"
Immediately Raf clenched his fists to his temples and let out a muffled curse as the agony he felt explosively grew even worse than before. At the same time Miko gasped in pain as her headache also intensified exponentially. She was absolutely convinced this was no coincidence and that it had to be because of the unique nature of their sparkbond.
She apologized profusely, "Oh God, Raf…I'm so sorry! Please forgive me, I - "
"M-Miko…? Miko, wh-what is it? What's wrong…?"
She realized with a start that he had no memory of her asking the question. She forced a shaky grin and replied, "N-nothing to worry about, sweetie. Look, I-I need to go talk to Pilar about something. Why don't you try closing your eyes for a bit and maybe you can catch a few Z's?"
"I…I don't think…"
Miko leaned down and gently kissed his forehead. She smiled reassuringly, "Just for a few minutes, I promise."
Raf didn't argue and reluctantly closed his eyes, falling asleep almost immediately. Miko silently tiptoed out and slowly eased the door shut behind her.
"How is he?"
Miko jumped and whirled to face Pilar. She cried, "Why the heck does everybody keep sneaking up on me like that?!"
"Sorry, Miko…just worried about my baby brother."
Miko sighed, "Me, too. I'm kinda fond of the guy, you know."
"What about you, Miko? You don't look like you're feeling so great, either."
"I'll be fine. Listen, Pilar…I think I need your help."
"Sure, what can I do?"
"I need you to tell me what happened to your grandfather."
Pilar visibly hesitated but Miko relentlessly pressed on.
"Look…I know it's none of my business and it's a sensitive subject and all, but please believe me when I say this is important. I-I think it's why Raf is sick."
Pilar narrowed her eyes and didn't say a word. Miko carefully watched her guarded expression and all of a sudden she realized.
"Oh, God…it is, isn't it?!"
Miko couldn't believe that she figured it out and urged, "Pilar, if you know then please tell me what's going on…please. Raf's condition, your parents fighting all the time, your grandfather…it's all connected somehow. Pilar, come on. You know how I feel about Raf. I have to know."
Pilar sighed, "We…we don't understand exactly why it happens. I mean, it's been years since I've seen it get this bad, but Rafael used to get this way whenever Mama and Papa were fighting. He just couldn't bear to hear the sound of our parents yelling at each other. It's one of the reasons he used to keep to himself so much."
Miko couldn't help but remember back when Raf had first met Jack and the Autobots. She hadn't been with them on that fateful day but thanks to their sparkbond, Miko could now see Raf's vivid memory as clearly as if it were her own. That afternoon Raf had been alone in a dry drainage canal, playing with a remote-controlled toy car. She had never wondered about it before but now it was clear that he had been avoiding his quarreling parents.
"I imagine things got a lot easier for him when he started going full-time to this government academy that you both attend. This way he doesn't have to deal with their mess and he can at least get some peace and quiet for a change."
A barrage of violent images from the Cybertronian War filled Miko's mind.
'Peace and quiet…?' Oh Pilar, you have no idea.
Pilar frowned, "These headaches Raf's been having, though…that's new. Best as I can remember, that's never happened before."
Miko asked, "So why are they fighting in the first place, Pilar?"
Pilar looked away and muttered, "I really shouldn't be saying anything about this…"
Miko patiently waited until Pilar reluctantly looked back at her.
"It's because of what happened to Grandfather, Miko. You see, the doctors had warned him that he had a weak heart. Mama always had to remind him to take things easy, but Grandfather had been a working man all his life. He just couldn't stand the thought that he wasn't doing his part. One day, he was with Papa at the ranch and…a-and…maldita sea."
Pilar angrily wiped the tears from her eyes before going on.
"His heart just…it just gave out on him, Miko. I remember Mama had practically begged Papa not to let Grandfather do anything remotely strenuous. I wasn't there to see exactly what had happened, but Papa didn't deny it when Mama accused him of not watching Grandfather closely enough. Rafael was in shock after finding out and had to be put in the hospital. Ever since then there's just been this wall of anger between our parents. It doesn't take much to set Mama off but Papa manages to do it without even trying. What's really weird is that he usually just stands there and takes it."
"Can't your mother see how all this is affecting Raf?"
Tears spilled freely down Pilar's face as she laughed helplessly, "Mama's been blinded by her grief for so long that she can't see the forest for the trees."
Miko reflexively reached out and hugged her friend. Urgently she whispered, "I-I'm so sorry, Pilar. You have to believe me…I never would've pushed like that but I swear I didn't have a choice."
Pilar managed a tiny smile, "Gotta stand by your man, Miko."
"The only thing that doesn't make sense is why Raf is having these blackouts. Whenever anyone talks about your grandfather's death, it's like his mind just shuts down or something. We're missing something here, Pilar."
Pilar stared at Miko for a long moment before she said, "Come with me."
…
When they found Raf's father he was working outside, an extremely fatigued expression on his exhausted face.
"Papa…"
Mr. Gonzales turned and faced Pilar and Miko. He said, "Girls…? Listen, I'm actually pretty busy…"
Miko respectfully said, "Mr. Gonzales, will you please tell me exactly what happened to Raf's grandfather?"
He immediately glared at his daughter and snapped, "Pilar! No debería haber dicho nada…!"
Miko gently interrupted, "Please don't be angry with Pilar, Mr. Gonzales…this wasn't her idea." She implored, "Sir, please…"
He tried to brush off the question and murmured, "It…it happened a long time ago, Miko. I'd rather not talk about it…"
She cut him off and bluntly said, "Mr. Gonzales, Pilar tells me you're the only one who was there when he died. You know what happened, so please…please…" Miko was already running on fumes, so she wasn't surprised when her head began to hurt in earnest. Her eyes filled with tears and she whispered, "R-Raf is sick. I'm sure that it's related to whatever happened to his grandfather, b-but…"
He looked hard at her before saying, "I…I know. Please try to understand, Miko. It's because of what happened that I don't want my son to even think about his grandfather, because if he does…"
"Raf's a lot stronger than you think, Mr. Gonzales. If you'd just give it another chance…"
Mr. Gonzales abruptly turned away and started to resume working. Miko's frayed patience finally snapped. She angrily snarled, "I love him. I would rather die than ever see Raf hurt."
He sighed, "Miko…"
She ignored him and didn't stop. "You obviously know what happened…"
"Miko, you don't understand, I'm doing this to protect him…"
Tears began streaming down her reddened cheeks and she cried, "…but…but if you won't do anything to help your son, th-then I will!"
Miko suddenly screamed as she felt a fresh wave of pain crash into her. She wobbled unsteadily on her feet and would have fallen over if Pilar and her father hadn't reached out to help steady her.
Urgently Pilar asked, "Miko, what's wrong? Are you all right?!"
She winced, "I…I'm okay."
"Oh, really…? Who do you think you're fooling, Miko?"
Everyone was startled by the sound of the unexpected voice. Miko turned and her breath caught in her chest when she saw Raf standing right behind them. Somehow he had snuck up without their knowledge.
He managed to smile weakly and said, "I thought I was supposed to be the one who always said they were okay when they weren't."
Miko smirked back at him, "Yeah, well…I guess that makes me as lousy an actor as you then, huh?"
Raf stumbled forward and shakily hugged Miko.
"L-Looks like whatever's happening to me is affecting you, too…"
Miko began, "Raf…"
He silenced her with a loving kiss and continued, "Listen…if this was just about me, then I wouldn't worry about it so much, but…y'know…it's you we're talking about here."
Raf chuckled fondly as she blushed a deep shade of crimson. For someone as extroverted and outgoing as Miko, she sure got easily embarrassed whenever he let her how much she truly meant to him.
He looked over at his father and said, "Papa…this has to stop."
Mr. Gonzales slowly started, "S-Son, you…"
Raf sighed, waving his hands in a circle around them as he gently interrupted, "Papa. Whatever 'this' is, it's tearing our family apart. I refuse to stand by and just watch it happen…especially not when it's hurting the people I love the most." He fixed a steely look of determination at his father and said, "One way or the other, it ends tonight."
Moved beyond words, Raf's proud father wiped his wet eyes and finally nodded in agreement, "All right. Let's go see your mother and fix this."
…
It was night when they made it to the family cemetery.
As they approached they could barely make out a single candle flickering in the darkness. Shadows danced eerily about as its ghostly illumination provided just enough light to see Raf's mother. She was all alone, sitting on the hard ground next to a weather-beaten tombstone. Her arms were wrapped possessively around the cold slab and she lay slumped against it. Miko's heart went out to Raf's mother, seeing that the poor woman looked just as exhausted and drained as the rest of them felt. Her half-lidded eyes fluttered and twitched as her chapped lips seemed to move of their own accord, attempting to form words that never came. At first she didn't sense the intrusion until Raf quietly cleared his throat.
Mrs. Esquivel slowly looked up and huffed loudly. She eventually murmured, "Go away. Leave me and my father in peace."
When they didn't budge she glared angrily at Miko and her husband and growled, "I don't want to see anybody right now…especially the two of you."
Raf stepped closer and said, "Mama, we need to talk about this."
"There is nothing to talk about, Rafael."
"I think there is, Mama. I think we should discuss what happened."
Raf's mother stared at him with an incredulous look before she suddenly began to giggle uncontrollably. The sound of her hysterical laughter sent chills down Miko's spine and she became very frightened, shivering in spite of herself. She could almost see a hint of madness deep within Mrs. Esquivel's sunken eyes.
Alarmed, Pilar cried, "M-Mama, please…!"
The sound of her daughter's terrified voice managed to help calm her down a bit. She rose unsteadily to her feet and faced her son.
"So…are you certain that you want to talk about what happened?"
Almost against his will, Raf slowly nodded.
Mrs. Esquivel sighed, "I remember it like it was yesterday, Rafael…you had a lot of schoolwork that day so you had asked if you could stay at home while I took the rest of your brothers and sisters shopping. Meanwhile, your father was busy working on building a new storage shed at the old ranch. Your grandfather wanted to help him but I told him he needed to stay home and rest. He wouldn't hear of it and promised he would take things easy. I made your father swear not to let him lift a finger, but we all know how that turned out…don't we?" She didn't bother to wipe away her tears as she said, "We were on our way home from shopping when I got the call to come to the hospital…"
She would never forget that terrible day for as long as she lived. She clearly recalled the moment in the hospital corridor when she met with her husband. He had struggled to keep it together as he explained to her that not only had Grandfather died, but also that Rafael was now in a state of shock after being told the bad news. Her youngest son's condition was so bad that he had to be hospitalized. Mrs. Esquivel quietly let her husband finish speaking before she reared back and slapped his face. A nearby orderly had to pull her back as she screamed, "YOU KNEW! YOU KNEW THAT HE HAD A WEAK HEART AND YOU STILL COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO WATCH OUT FOR HIM! YOU ARE THE REASON MY FATHER IS GONE AND YOU ARE THE REASON MY SON IS SUFFERING IN THIS GODFORSAKEN PLACE! THIS IS YOUR FAULT…ALL YOUR FAULT!"
Raf trembled as his mother suddenly reached out and hugged him.
"I am so sorry for everything that you went through, Rafael. I only want you to understand that what your father did was absolutely unforgivable. Because of him, Grandfather is dead."
Raf recoiled, flinching back as he whispered hoarsely, "N-no…"
"Yes, Rafael…I've held back for many years telling you this, but it is well past time that you knew the truth…about what kind of so-called man your father is!"
Pilar sobbed, "Mama, stop it!"
Mrs. Esquivel didn't stop. The words just came gushing out of her like so much poisoned bile. She whirled about and pointed an accusing finger at Raf's father and screamed, "YOU MAY JUST AS WELL HAVE MURDERED HIM!"
Miko's head continued to pound as she fought to understand. There were far too many unanswered questions and none of it made any sense. What was causing Raf's blackouts? What about the headaches they had both been having? What was that frightening vision she had seen? Why wasn't Mr. Gonzales even trying to defend himself? Was everything Mrs. Esquivel said true? Was Raf's father really responsible for all the heartache this family had endured?
Miko stopped herself and took a moment to think. That couldn't be right. Somehow she knew Raf's father was innocent but even if he wasn't, it still didn't explain that strange comment that he had made.
I'm doing this to protect him.
Protect him from what? What happened on that day?
Raf stumbled to his knees and struggled to hold onto his sanity as he began to experience another attack. This one was the worst yet. Sweat poured down his face and his body started to quake, until finally the agonizing pressure in his head was more than he could bear and Raf screamed.
It was enough to chill his parents' blood. In all their years they had never heard their son cry out like that. They were so stunned that they were momentarily rooted to the spot.
Miko raced to his side, the pain she felt rapidly overwhelming her. Without warning the vision returned, and once again in her mind's eye she saw a nightmarish flash of crimson skies as the shrill sounds of a child wailing assailed her ears.
Miko blindly reached out and clutched Raf's hand.
"Wh-what's happening to us, Raf…?!"
He all but fell into her embrace and sobbed loudly. Miko forced her way through the pain and gently caressed Raf's cheek. She whispered reassuringly, "It…it's going to be all right, baby. I'm here. I-I'm right here."
She cringed as the skies turned red yet again. The haunting cries were even louder this time. Raf suddenly flinched and cupped his hands over his ears. Startled, Miko asked, "W-wait, you can hear that?!"
At that moment she knew he was experiencing the same visions.
All the fight abruptly went out of him as Raf sobbed, "P-please, Miko…I-I don't want…to see…"
Miko's heart broke when she saw the look of fear in Raf's eyes. She held him close and said, "Raf, listen to me…we're together. Remember? Together we can handle anything…anything."
Raf looked up into her eyes and he managed to smile.
Miko grinned confidently and whispered, "We got this."
Suddenly everything went black.
It was as if they had been puppets and their strings were unexpectedly cut. Raf and Miko's bodies both collapsed lifelessly to the ground and they did not move again.
Raf's family immediately leapt to their aid. Mrs. Esquivel quickly cradled her son's head in her lap as Mr. Gonzales gingerly held onto Miko. They repeatedly called out their names but there was no response.
The young lovers' linked hands continued to tightly hold onto one another, never letting go.
Pilar started to panic, terrified by the eerie sight of how their eyes had rolled back into their heads and only the whites were showing.
"Wh-what's wrong with them?!"
Raf's father yelled, "GO GET HELP!"
As Pilar ran off Mrs. Esquivel clutched her motionless son close to her and began to pray, sobbing, "Please, Lord…n-not my baby, too…not my baby, too…"
…
Miko was suddenly somewhere else. She slowly opened her eyes and nervously looked around. She took in her surroundings and quickly recognized the place: she was at Raf's old family ranch back in Jasper, Nevada.
She remembered visiting several times years ago, in particular the afternoon after high school graduation. That was the day when she learned that Raf felt something more for her than mere friendship. What she currently saw before her was a tranquil moment that was so beautiful it took her breath away. There was a warm breeze blowing and the skies were bursting with vivid colors as the sun slowly sank below the horizon.
Miko wondered how any of this was possible. Before she could question it any further, she realized the pain that had been plaguing her had all but disappeared.
She then heard the sound of hammering. She turned to see Raf's father, working hard as he slowly put together the wooden framework for a new building. For some strange reason he didn't appear to be able to see Miko standing there. He winced as he straightened up and wiped his brow, resting for a moment from his labors.
He smiled and walked over to a nearby fence and joined his companion. Leaning against the fence was a man who Miko had never met before but she recognized instantly. She gasped as she beheld Raf's grandfather, alive and well.
Miko was once again amazed how much he and Raf looked alike. He was a tall man, his gray spiky hair billowing in the breeze. Mr. Gonzales spoke to him and the older man laughed uproariously. He appeared to be so full of life and energy that Miko found it hard to believe he had a weak heart.
Both men laughed again and Miko followed their gaze. Inside the fence was a young boy giggling happily as he played with a tiny colt. Miko's eyes widened as she looked closely at the child. There was no mistaking that spiky hair and those cute horn-rimmed glasses.
"…Raf…!"
Miko continued to watch as Raf's grandfather asked his son-in-law, "Are you sure you don't need any help? I promise that I won't overdo anything!"
Mr. Gonzales chuckled and replied, "Gracias, Papa. I'm good!"
The older man huffed imperiously and scowled for a moment. Then his mischievous eyes twinkled and he laughed, "You're afraid of what my daughter might say, aren't you?"
Mr. Gonzales smirked back, "Who in their right mind wouldn't be?"
Raf's grandfather winked, "Don't worry, Son…I'll be good. To be honest, she sometimes scares me too…"
Both men laughed out loud at that and Raf's father went into one of the storage buildings to get some more tools. Raf's grandfather turned to watch his grandson sneak an apple to Amigo.
As the happy horse devoured his treat, Raf's grandfather smiled fondly and said, "You're doing a good job with the horses, Rafael."
Little Raf blushed and replied, "Oh, be serious, Grandfather! You know I'm too small to do any good! Besides…the other horses are so big, th-they scare me!"
"What about Amigo, here…?"
Raf smiled as he pet the colt's mane. "Amigo's different. He isn't scary, he's just like me. He's the runt."
"True, but one day Amigo will grow up big and strong like his brothers…and so will you."
"Me…?"
He nodded, "Rafael, do you remember your hero Padre Kino? Just think about all the things that he was capable of. The day is fast approaching when you will be a man and then there's no telling what you can accomplish. Look at what you've managed to do so far. What was that thing you did with the computer when you were only three years old? Catching code…?"
Raf giggled, "Reading code, Grandfather…understanding digital code is easy. What you and Papa do…that's hard." He shook his head and smirked, "'Catching' code…"
Raf's grandfather got a wicked gleam in his eye and he chuckled, "Oh, really…? Just wait till I catch you!" He suddenly reached out as if to grab little Raf. The little boy squealed in pretend terror and began to run. The older man laughed and chased after him for a few minutes until finally he managed to catch him.
He picked up his grandson and smiled, "I believe in you, Rafael. One day you will outshine us all."
Little Raf flung his arms around his grandfather's neck and hugged him.
"I love you, Grandfather."
"Te amo, Rafael."
Raf's grandfather began to twirl them both around. Without a care in the world, they spun and laughed together with a childlike joy.
Without warning Raf's grandfather slowed to a stop and grimaced as a cold grip of pain hit him. He clutched his hand to the sudden tightness in his chest, his eyes widening as he realized what was happening. Wondering why he had stopped, little Raf looked into his grandfather's eyes and saw the fear there.
Using the last of his failing strength Raf's grandfather managed to twist around just in time so he didn't fall on top of the child, using his own body to cushion Raf's when they hit the ground.
For a seemingly endless moment there was a deathly quiet. The sun disappeared and the scene was bathed in an eerie crimson light, making everything appear as if it had been drenched in blood.
Shaken to her core, Miko's hands reflexively covered her open mouth as she finally understood. The nightmarish vision that had tormented her and Raf wasn't a vision. It was a repressed memory.
She had been literally standing within one of Raf's innermost memories.
Miko watched as Raf's grandfather slowly opened his eyes and managed to whisper, "R-Rafael…d-don't be afraid…it…it is all right…"
Little Raf sniffed, "G-Grandfather…y-you…"
"Shh…don't cry. Come closer, Rafael…I-I need to tell you something…"
Raf leaned in close to his grandfather, listening intently to what he said. Miko was too far away and couldn't hear. Suddenly Raf leaned his head back and screamed. She knew then that his grandfather had just passed away, dying in his tiny grandson's arms.
His pitiful cries quickly reached his father's ears. Mr. Gonzales immediately emerged from the storage shed and whispered, "Dios mio…no…NO!"
He came running as fast as he could but it was too late. The old man was gone.
Little Raf tugged at his grandfather's shirt and sobbed, "Wake up, Grandfather…please wake up!"
Mr. Gonzales' heart broke at the sight before him. He tried not to tear up as he reached out and cradled his son in his strong arms. He honestly didn't know what to say.
"R-Rafael…"
Hysterically little Raf said over and over again, "It's my fault…it's all my fault…!"
Mr. Gonzales wanted to assure his son that it wasn't his fault, and that it didn't happen because of anything he did. He never had the chance. Raf started to tremble violently until finally he slumped against his father.
The world around Miko shattered, leaving only an endless expanse of darkness in its place.
Horrified, she whispered to herself, "Oh, God…! R-Raf…you were there! You were there the whole time and we never knew…!"
Miko was about to start bawling her eyes out but then she heard the unmistakable sound of another person crying. She turned to see Rafael…her Rafael. His shoulders shuddered as he wept, the tremor of confused emotions sweeping through his entire body. Miko slowly approached him and tentatively laid her hand against his arm. He was in such turmoil that he didn't even feel her gentle touch.
"…it wasn't my father's fault…it was mine! It was my fault…!"
"Raf."
He finally snapped out of it and looked at her.
"M-Miko…?"
Raf suddenly pulled Miko close and pressed her body tightly against his own. She returned the desperate embrace, whispering soothingly into his ear and stroking her fingers through his hair.
He choked out the words, "I…I remember now. I remember everything. I-I must've blocked out what happened that day. Every time I thought too much about my grandfather my mind would shut itself off, but the memory was always still there…!"
He pulled away abruptly and said, "I'm so sorry, Miko. The memory buried deep in my subconscious must've somehow bled through our sparkbond. Th-that's why you…Dios mio, please forgive me…!"
"Raf, why do you keep saying what happened to your grandfather was your fault? I don't understand…you didn't do anything."
He swallowed nervously, "Yes I did, Miko. I changed my mind. That day Mama and the others had just left and I got scared. I…I didn't want to be all alone and decided to go along with Papa and Grandfather. If…if it weren't for me, Grandfather wouldn't have overtaxed his heart and he would still…w-would…still…"
"Stop it. You don't know that, Raf. It wasn't your fault, and it wasn't your father's. It just happened."
Raf blinked uncertainly and stared deeply into Miko's eyes. He wanted to believe what she was saying was the truth but he was so afraid.
"Baby, sometimes bad things just happen. I-I don't know why but they do, no matter how much we might wish otherwise."
She thought for a moment and added, "M-maybe it's God's way of making us stronger, somehow. Maybe…I don't know, maybe He just missed your grandfather and wanted him to come home."
Hot tears poured unrelentingly out of Raf's eyes.
"I…I miss him so much, Miko…"
"I know, baby. I know…"
…
Mrs. Esquivel looked up at her husband and glared furiously. She gritted her teeth and snarled, "Youuu…! Th-this is your doing, somehow! Wasn't it enough that you took my father from me…now you have to take my son as well?! Will you only be satisfied when my entire family is dead?! I cannot take this anymore! I am going to take Rafael far away from here…away from you, a-and…!"
Like a bolt from the blue Miko and Raf suddenly awoke with a loud gasp. For several moments there was confusion as they panted, desperately trying to readjust their perceptions back to reality.
Mr. Gonzales asked, "Are you two okay? What happened to - "
Mrs. Esquivel immediately grabbed Raf's hand and began to tug him away.
"Come along, Rafael. We are leaving."
"No, Mama."
"I don't have time for this, Rafael."
"Mama, I said no and I mean NO!"
At first Mrs. Esquivel couldn't believe that her son had spoken to her like that. Then the moment passed and she shouted, "H-how dare you!"
"¡ESO ES SUFICIENTE!"
Everyone turned to regard Miko with a measure of shock and surprise. She stood to her feet and fearlessly stomped towards Raf's mother. If there was ever a time that warranted revealing just how fluent she was in Spanish, she figured now was that time. She breathed in deeply and cut loose.
"Señora Esquivel, lo siento mucho. Has pasado por tanto cosas que no puedo imaginarme…la muerte de tu padre y los sentimientos hacia tu marido que estás muy vulnerable." Miko paused for a single heartbeat. "Pero si no escuchas a Rafael lo prometo te daré una bofetada!"
Raf's Mother was shocked into silence, too stunned to speak. Raf was equally flabbergasted, not quite believing that Miko had said what she did.
Mr. Gonzales stepped in between Miko and his wife.
"That's enough, Miko. I know you mean well, but she doesn't deserve to be spoken to in such a way."
Miko looked up at him and gently said, "Mr. Gonzales, don't you think she deserves to hear the truth…about everything?"
He frowned and said, "But m-my son…"
"…is okay now. It's safe to talk about, I promise."
"I…I don't know. I think - "
Miko stared into his eyes with her unnervingly intense gaze.
"Mr. Gonzales. Raf was there that day. I saw it."
His eyes widened in utter disbelief as he whispered, "H-how…?"
"You don't have to protect him anymore. You can let it go now." She smiled, "Mr. Gonzales, don't you think that you've suffered in silence long enough?"
Miko watched as all the years of fear and worry bled out of Raf's father. He slowly fell to his knees and began to weep with great shaking sobs. Compassion filled Miko's heart and she gently wiped away a stray tear.
Mrs. Esquivel nervously asked, "Wh-what is she talking about?" She looked over at her son and urgently said, "Rafael…?"
Raf wiped away his own tears and said, "It's true, Mama. I was there when Grandfather died."
"What…?!"
He nodded, "Papa was not responsible for what happened that day. He was very careful and didn't let Grandfather do anything that might even remotely tax his heart. In fact, I distinctly remember Grandfather being pretty darn frustrated that no one let him have any fun."
Mr. Gonzales looked up at him with reddened eyes and stammered, "R-Rafael…! Y-you remember all that?!"
Raf smiled sadly and replied, "Yes, Papa. My mind wouldn't let me remember before, but thanks to Miko I'm better now."
She smiled and held Raf's hand.
He turned to his mother and continued, "One minute Grandfather was laughing and the next he just collapsed. H-he died in my arms, Mama. I believed that it was my fault he died, and my mind just…just shut down."
Mr. Gonzales' voice shook as he said, "Y-you were rushed to Jasper Memorial Hospital. The doctor was speaking to me outside your door, telling me that you had suffered a severe emotional trauma and any additional shock might cause irreparable damage. I-I was afraid that if people started bombarding you with questions that it would cause a relapse and make things worse! I couldn't take that chance…"
Miko sighed, "…so when Mrs. Esquivel arrived at the hospital, you diverted all the attention away from Raf and let her assume that his grandfather's death was your fault. You took the blame for what happened and said nothing for all those years."
Raf closed his eyes and murmured, "Oh, Papa…"
Mr. Gonzales looked up and said matter-of-factly, "I had to protect you both."
Raf asked, "'Both?' What do you mean, Papa?"
Raf's father motioned towards his wife and smiled sadly, "She had just lost her father, Rafael. It hadn't been too long since her mother had passed away, so when he died…" He drew in a deep shuddering breath before continuing, "…I know from experience what that's like, when you realize that both your parents are gone forever and you're all alone in this world. It is a very frightening feeling."
"But why…?"Mrs. Esquivel slowly took a hesitant step towards her husband before she stopped and repeated, "…why? Why didn't you ever say anything?" She stepped even closer until she stood directly in front of her husband. Tears welled and began to cascade down her cheeks as she reached out and rested her trembling hands against him, even as he gently held her shoulders. "Wh-why didn't you tell me?" She clenched her hands into fists and in her tearful frustration began to pound against her husband's chest. She could not bring herself to look into his eyes. "A-all those y-years…y-you never said a word…! Why? Why…why…?!
Mr. Gonzales smiled lovingly, "Because you are my wife and I am your husband. You were hurting and needed to grieve, amor mío. It has always been my job to care for you, and if I failed to do that simple thing when you needed me the most…I would not have been able to live with myself."
Mrs. Esquivel sobbed, "S-sorry…I-I am sorry…I was s-so horrible to you…I-I don't deserve your fuh-forgiveness…I am so, so sorry…"
He pulled her into a tender embrace and replied, "Shh…I'm sorry, too."
"Wh-what for…?"
"…I did my best to get your papa to take things easy but the old man rarely listened to reason. He was a very proud man."
She wiped her eyes and managed an almost imperceptible smile, "He was a stubborn old goat, you mean…"
They began laughing and crying at the same time. Raf and Miko stood nearby, tears of relief sliding down both their cheeks.
Miko whispered, "Raf? What did your grandfather say to you before he died?"
Raf's voice cracked with emotion as he answered, "H-he said, 'Dying is a part of life. Everyone has their appointed time to dance with death. It simply is what it is.'"
Mrs. Esquivel looked at Raf with surprise. She exclaimed, "After Mama died, he said the exact same thing to me…!"
Mr. Gonzales nodded solemnly, "He was a very wise man."
Suddenly everyone grew strangely quiet. Raf and his parents stared at one another for several anxious moments. Before he knew what was happening they scooped him into their arms, crying loudly and begging for his forgiveness. For someone as young as him to have unknowingly carried such a heavy burden all these years…it was difficult to imagine.
Miko smiled, content to remain where she stood until she noticed Raf's mother smiling at her. Mrs. Esquivel held out an outstretched arm, inviting her into the embrace. Miko couldn't stop the tears from falling as she rushed towards them and joined the family.
"I am very sorry for the way I behaved, Miko."
Miko grinned, "De nada, Mrs. E. We're good."
"By the way, I must say that I am impressed with how well you speak our language…"
Raf winced, "Uh, oh…"
"…but I was especially impressed with the way you stood up to me earlier…"
Mr. Gonzales took a nervous step backwards. Under his breath he muttered, "Run, Miko…run!"
"…and in all my years, no one has ever spoken to me in such a way."
"N-no one?"
"No one."
Raf and his father were paralyzed with fear. They were rooted to the spot and could only stare helplessly.
Mrs. Esquivel smiled, "You've got guts, Miko. That kind of attitude will serve you well in life."
Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief.
She motioned her head in the direction of her husband and son, saying, "Be sure to always remember: never let our men step out of line. Why, they wouldn't even know how to tie their own shoes if it weren't for us showing them the instructions!"
Miko giggled, "Oh, don't worry about that. I've got Raf right where I want him!"
Raf moaned, "W-wait…what just happened…?!"
Mr. Gonzales snickered and gently elbowed his son.
"Don't worry, Son. You'll be all right so long as you keep one thing in mind: whenever they say jump, we say…"
Raf finished, "…how high?"
His father winked and grinned, "That's my boy."
Mrs. Esquivel reached out and firmly poked her husband in the belly. She growled, "Cállate."
Mr. Gonzales laughed happily and she rewarded him with a fond smirk.
Mrs. Esquivel abruptly glared at her son and barked his name, "RAFAEL!"
He jumped, "Y-yes, Mama?"
She nodded towards Miko and sternly said, "This girl is special. If you are as smart as I know you are, you had better not let her slip away!"
The young lovers shared a look. Raf grinned, "Never."
Raf took Miko into his arms and kissed her full on the lips. It wasn't an innocent little peck, either. It was a deep, passionate kiss that Miko enthusiastically responded to, and it quickly became crystal clear that they weren't planning on stopping anytime soon.
Mrs. Esquivel turned bright beet-red and scolded, "R-Rafael…! Rafael, you stop that this instant!"
Mr. Gonzales grinned at the welcome sight and said, "Let them be, my love. Besides…" He got a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and suddenly pulled his wife close. "…it certainly looks like a good idea to me!" He wasted no more time and pressed their lips together in a long-overdue kiss. For an instant Mrs. Esquivel fought to escape her husband's strong arms but just as quickly she all but melted in his embrace. Before long she was returning the kiss with a barely restrained fervor.
Raf and Miko finally came up for air when they realized what was happening. Incredulous, Raf sputtered, "M-Mama…? Papa?!"
Miko was equally bamboozled and cried with mock indignation, "Mrs. Esquivel!" Then she giggled happily and covered Raf's eyes, giving the reunited couple an enthusiastic thumbs-up of approval as she exclaimed, "NICE!"
Raf's parents finally took a breather. His mother was blushing profusely as she sighed in utter bliss and contentment. His father gave her a smug but loving wink before she huffed and smacked him hard on the bicep.
As he chuckled Mrs. Esquivel quickly fanned herself and said, "In my day, Rafael…nice boys and girls wouldn't even think about doing such things. At least, not until we…how do you say…put a ring on it?"
Raf nodded knowingly at his father before saying, "Mama, I couldn't agree with you more." He immediately turned to face Miko and dropped to one knee.
Thinking he was kidding around with her, Miko laughed, "Raf, what are you doing, you silly baka? Your parents are watching!"
Without saying a word Raf merely reached into his pocket.
"C'mon, Raf…this is…wh-what are you…you…" Miko's stuttering words trailed off when she saw Raf slowly pull out a tiny velvet box. Her hands reflexively covered her gaping mouth and barely stopped a startled squeal from escaping, even as huge tears began streaming down her cheeks. She managed to whisper, "R-Raf…!"
Raf opened the box and Miko almost fainted at the sight of the engagement ring.
He blushed, "I-I know I've already asked this question once before but I wanted to make it official. Miko, I hope by now you've realized that I can't live without you. Honestly, I wouldn't even want to try. You are the most important person in the world to me and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Raf started to tear up but managed to hold it at bay, at least for the moment.
Miko was speechless. Well, almost. Breathlessly she asked, "Wh-wh-when did you…?"
He grinned, "…right before we started this crazy trip." Raf gently slipped the ring onto Miko's finger and shyly asked, "S-so…what do you say, Miko?"
"…yes. Yes…YES!" Miko hurled herself at Raf like a veritable bullet train and wrapped herself around him, kissing Raf senseless. She cried, "God, I love you so much, Raf. You better believe my answer is yes!"
It was all Raf could do not to burst from sheer happiness as Miko continued to pepper his face with rapid-fire kisses. His parents went nuts and shouted with joy.
At that moment Pilar returned to the cemetery with Father Marcus in tow. She stopped in mid-stride and stared in shock and disbelief at the unexpected scene.
Father Marcus looked at her and said, "I'm sorry, I-I don't understand. I thought you said someone was hurt, Pilar."
"I…I guess everything's all right now. They seem to be doing okay, Padre."
He smiled serenely, "Much better than okay, I'd say…much better, indeed."
…
It was after midnight. Fresh flowers filled the air with a pleasant scent and dozens of lighted candles illuminated the otherwise dark and spooky cemetery.
The entire family had gathered together and there was much jubilation and joyous laughter, kicking off Día de los Muertos a little bit ahead of schedule. Normally the colorful celebration didn't officially begin until the afternoon hours, but in light of the happy reunion of Raf's parents as well as the engagement of Raf and Miko, everyone unanimously agreed it was a truly momentous occasion.
The normally excitable children yawned sleepily and struggled to keep their eyes open as the parents passed the time by playing cards and listening to the village band. Everyone present reminisced about their lost loved ones.
Few countries paid homage to death the way that Mexico did, with offerings, songs, respect and humor. They were all common expressions that many Mexicans had towards death. The traditional attitude was to welcome death when it was time, even to find comfort in it.
One particular relative who had a talent for writing read aloud from a short poem called a calavera. It described some rather interesting details about Raf's departed grandfather, some that made Raf blush with embarrassment. Everyone laughed at the funny stories and they applauded at its conclusion.
Pilar wore a beautiful dress and sported a new highly ornate skull design painted on her lovely features as she symbolically appeared as La Catrina. In Mexico La Calavera Catrina was the embodiment of death, and it was common to see her as part of the celebrations during the Day of the Dead. Pilar danced happily about, the seashells worn on her clothing clattering musically. The shells were worn to make enough noise to help wake the spirits.
Raf's parents sat close together, holding hands as they whispered to one another. Raf's father was understandably curious about what had happened and couldn't help but ask questions.
"I still don't understand how Miko knew about so much! It just doesn't make any sense…"
Raf's mother smiled, "…maybe it's not meant to. What we experienced was a miracle. How else would you describe it? Look at us, my love…we are a family again. You and I are together, our son is getting married to a wonderful girl…what more do you need to know?"
He grinned, "You're right, as always."
"Of course I am. I am your wife, remember?"
He embraced her and said, "And that is something I am eternally thankful for, amor mío."
Mrs. Esquivel looked over at her father's tombstone and wondered out loud, "Did you have anything to do with this, you stubborn old goat?" She chuckled softly, "I think maybe you did."
Mr. Gonzales followed her wistful gaze and sighed, "I miss him."
She smiled tenderly at her husband and caressed his cheek before briefly pecking him on the lips. "You know, Papa was very fond of you." He winked naughtily at her and she rolled her eyes, sighing, "Although for the life of me I cannot imagine why." She paused for a heartbeat before forcefully tugging him closer so she could really kiss him.
Just before he closed his eyes and settled into the kiss, Mr. Gonzales happened to notice Raf and Miko huddled together. They were conspicuously apart from everyone else in the cemetery. He halfheartedly pulled back from his wife's warm embrace and concernedly asked, "Is everything all right, Son? What are you and Miko working on so industriously over there?"
Raf and Miko stepped back and revealed their project, a humble little altar that they had managed to assemble from the meager materials available to them.
Mrs. Esquivel caught the unmistakable look of sorrow on both their faces. Instantly sympathetic, she asked, "Who is it for?"
Raf hesitantly explained, "W-we made it to honor some friends, Mama…you know, from where Miko and I work."
"Oh, Rafael…we did not know. We are very sorry for your loss."
"Um…do you think we could have a few minutes, please?"
Mr. Gonzales smiled with understanding and said, "Of course, my son. Take all the time you need."
When his parents moved out of earshot, Raf and Miko furtively glanced at one another before they knelt in front of the makeshift altar. Raf whispered, "I'm sorry for not having any ofrendas, but somehow I don't think they would mind."
Miko sighed, "You know, sometimes I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the concept of an afterlife, let alone one for the Autobots. It wasn't all that long ago when Jack tried to explain to us what the AllSpark was like, remember?"
Raf nodded, "I know. It was a little difficult to follow."
"Do you think they're at peace, Raf-kun?"
"I'd like to believe so, Miko. I can't think of anyone else who deserves it more."
Raf lit the single candle atop the tiny altar. Miko held his hand and smiled as they took turns remembering their fallen friends and family.
"Tailgate, Cliffjumper…I really wish we had gotten a chance to meet you in life. We know how special you were to my oneesama Arcee, so that makes you very special to us."
"Optimus Prime…you selflessly protected our entire planet and saved our lives over and over again, never asking for anything in return. I…I don't know if you ever realized it, but you were like a father to us all."
"Little Rook…you were only with us for a very short time, but you were a part of our family and we loved you."
"Breakdown, Skyquake, Dreadwing…you may have been Decepticons but in the end, I suppose it doesn't really matter. I still pray that your sparks have found rest."
"Megatronus Prime…even though we can't forget what you did, I believe what Jack said and that you turned away from the darkness before you died. I-I hope you and Solus Prime manage to find happiness together in the AllSpark."
Miko glanced at Raf before she placed a second candle atop the makeshift altar. Raf lit the candle as she whispered, "Steinberg, Graves, and Pulaski…we know that you three were Agent Fowler's best friends back when he was a soldier. Because of your brave sacrifice he was able to survive and become a part of our family, for which we are eternally grateful. You fought for freedom and now the fight's won." She paused for a moment and then added, "I have faith that your souls are finally at peace."
Raf's eyes widened with unexpected joy as he gazed at Miko. She smiled shyly and shrugged.
Just then Raf saw something out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look at it more closely and inhaled sharply. He wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light, but for just an instant he imagined that he saw the ghostly visage of Optimus Prime smiling back at him.
Raf blinked tiredly but grinned, "Can you believe it, Miko? We finally did it."
Miko gushed excitedly, "I know! I've never been so happy before, Raf!" She held up her hand and admired the beautiful diamond ring.
"I just wish I could've planned things better." Raf looked around at their macabre surroundings and frowned, "I should have at least waited until we were back home before popping the question."
Miko smirked, "Oh, please…what girl doesn't dream of being proposed to in a graveyard on Day of the Dead? That's hot."
Raf morosely murmured, "I…I'm really sorry for all I put you through, Miko…for all the hurt that I caused you…"
Miko stood up on her tiptoes and gazed deep into her fiancé's eyes. She smiled, "For the umpteenth time, please quit worrying about it. It was a repressed memory, Raf. I mean, it wasn't like you were intentionally hiding something from me!"
Alarmed, Raf exclaimed, "I would never…!"
Miko gently interrupted, "See, I know that. That's why we fit together so perfectly, Raf…no secrets between us Sparkmates, right? I mean, know my life's an open book." She suddenly giggled for no discernable reason.
Raf raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it, Miko?"
She winked suggestively at him and said, "Can you guess what I'm thinking about right now…?"
A generous amount of his body's blood supply suddenly rushed to color Raf's cheeks as he blushed like mad. He whined plaintively, "Mikooo…! That's not fair!"
"Just imagine how intense it'll be after we get married, Raf!" Miko mercilessly giggled again.
Finally she figured Raf had suffered enough and said, "No, seriously…I was just wondering - especially after what we just went through - can you imagine what would happen if a Sparkmate deliberately kept secrets from whoever they were bonded with…?"
Raf pondered it for a moment and winced noticeably.
"This is just a theory but in light of what we experienced, I believe that part of being Sparkmates means that the two bonded sparks have to be perfectly aligned together. This kind of union is a lot like a marriage…it's got to be all or nothing. If for whatever reason the sparks in question weren't in sync…like, say one or both of the pair wasn't completely honest about something…at the very least it would cause physical pain similar to what we felt. It might actually be dangerous."
Miko softly exhaled, "Whoa. That's deep."
Raf reached down and gently brushed his fingertips against her cheek and said, "Well, that's one thing you won't ever have to worry about that from me, Miko. I'm yours."
Her heart fluttered and she smiled sweetly, "I know, baby. I hope you know that I feel the same way about you. Come on…let's get back to the others."
As Raf and Miko returned to the festivities, Pilar accidently bumped into them. She had been dancing up a storm and hadn't been watching where she was going.
Winded as she was, Pilar managed to pant, "S-sorry, you two…my bad."
Miko grinned, "Don't worry about it…you were awesome!"
"Gracias, Miko. Whooo…I think I'm going to have to sit down for a minute." Pilar looked up and said, "Hey, Mama tells me that you have some kind of dance back home in Japan called the Bon-Odori."
Suspiciously Miko asked, "Yeah, so…?"
"So…why don't you show all of us how it's done?"
Miko tried to politely decline, but everyone present had overheard their conversation and did their best to coax her into agreeing to dance. She blushed uncharacteristically and finally muttered, "Okay, okay! Sheesh! You guys definitely need to get out more…"
Everyone quickly gathered in a large circle around Miko and sat down, quietly watching her with rapt attention. She handed Raf her beloved cell phone after she cued up a specific track on her music playlist. She walked towards the center of the circle, took a deep breath and nodded.
Raf hit play and the haunting strains of a Japanese melody were heard. Miko began to slowly walk in a counterclockwise direction, taking small steps forward as her body moved in perfect rhythm with the music. She clapped five times and faced right, taking a step forward with her right foot as she brought her hands in front of her face. Using her left foot she reached out and traced the subtle outline of Mount Fuji. She held her left foot in the air as she hid her face with her right hand, then repeated the motion in mirror fashion. Her slender arms stretched out and made a large sweeping circle, and then did the same using only her wrists. Miko's body moved elegantly from side to side in a seemingly effortless display of grace and poise as she continued to dance in a perfect circle, occasionally stopping to bend at the knee and clap in time with the subtle beat of the music. Everyone was silent, utterly captivated by the intricate motions of the dance.
Raf was oblivious to everything except Miko. He was absolutely enraptured with the sight of her lithe form. Pilar giggled as she once again helped him close his gaping mouth. She whispered, "It's a good thing you two decided to wait until you got married…otherwise I might already be an aunt!"
As Raf sputtered and tried to deny it, Pilar laughed and jumped to her feet. She joined Miko and stood alongside her, asking, "Is it okay if I join you?"
Miko grinned, "Yeah! It's lots more fun when there's more than one dancer!"
Pilar watched her closely and rapidly picked up the dance, soon matching Miko step for step. Very quickly they were joined by more and more of Raf's family, until finally there was nothing but a large circle of dancers, clapping and moving together in flawless graceful symmetry.
Raf laughed as he clumsily attempted to follow Miko's lead. He would never forget this night for a large number of reasons but this particular moment stood out because he realized that for an all too brief a time, two completely different cultures came together in perfect harmony.
When the music stopped everyone groaned, as they were disappointed that the dance had ended. They turned to Miko and began to applaud. Miko grinned and took a dramatic bow before she sat down next to Raf. He kissed her fondly on the cheek and whispered, "What happened to you and all things traditionally Japanese?" She responded by punching him in the shoulder, muttering, "Shut up…" The happy smile on her face was a dead giveaway.
Several of Raf's family excitedly approached Miko.
"Gracias por el baile, Miko!"
"Si! Fue muy chida!"
Raf's younger cousin Bob shyly drew closer to Miko and murmured in surprisingly decent English, "Japan must be a really cool place to live…"
She smiled, "It's not so bad."
Raf snickered at Miko's apparent change of heart. She ignored him and shrugged it off. She turned to face his family and said, "They can just be so darn stuffy sometimes…always going on and on and on about tradition. Did you know that my parents have actually gotten it into their heads that Raf and I are going to have a traditional Japanese wedding? I mean, seriously…can you imagine it?"
As Miko started to giggle at the mental image, Raf's mother appeared out of nowhere and began to laugh along with her.
"Oh, that's just silly…!"
Miko laughed even louder, "I know, right?!"
"…especially when we all know you will be having a beautiful traditional Mexican wedding!"
Miko and Raf suddenly stared wide-eyed at one another for an endless eternity.
Finally the two young lovers facepalmed helplessly before Raf muttered, "Shimatta." just as Miko swore, "¡Ay, caramba!"