The next day was cloudy-sunny, and Esmer awoke to every single gypsy in the colony hovered around his tent, waiting for him to come out. He was slightly embarrassed, seeing as he was still in his night clothes and he grabbed his wrap. "Hey, guys—what's going on?"
"We're here to make sure no soldiers, police, or any other form of law enforcement bothers you," the gypsy Roma said.
"Why would that be different than any other day?"
"They're on the warpath today," Vadoma explained. "They'll look at us as responsible for Froella's… end. Even though we weren't the ones to…"
They all peered over at Modette, who was peeking at them from behind a nearby tent.
"One moment." Esmer walked over to Modette and got on his knees to hug her. "Thank you so much. For everything."
Even though he was supposed to have been the one to protect her, which he felt bad about. But the little misshapen girl didn't seem to mind. "Thanks," she managed.
He didn't want let go but he did. "I'm sorry she was your mother. I mean that."
Modette took a shaky breath. "If she weren't, I wouldn't be the person I am today."
"You mean the four-foot tall flirtatious nugget you are today!"
Everyone shot Clopine a dirty look, and she bashed Daisy's head in.
"So. Where do we go from here?" Esmer asked, even though he already knew the answer. He would pack all he needed in a knapsack in record time and leave with his troupe for the next town. And Modette would…
"I want to atone for my sins," she murmured. "For what I did yesterday and for those of my parents. I want to find them. And help the poor, however I can."
"I'm so proud of you," he said.
"I also want to get surgery on my face."
"... Oh, really?"
Esmer must have allowed his face to fall because she quickly added, "So I can have a better life. Not because I believe I'm cursed or anything."
"Well, don't tell Clopine." He leaned forward to whisper in her ear: "But I always thought you were kind of cute." Modette froze, blushing furiously. He decided to make it worse and kiss her on the cheek.
"Chop-chop, subjects!" Clopine shouted, hands on her hips. "We haven't got all day."
"Yes, let's be able to tell our grandchildren we got out of here in one piece," Daisy chimed in.
"Thanks for giving me water." Modette said, her eyes glistening.
Esmer doubled forward, bowing. "You are a child of God, after all." He stood up, shaking her hand formally. "Goodbye, friend. Hope we meet again someday." And he took Clopine's hand—the one that didn't have the funny puppet on it—and walked off with the rest of the troupe towards their future.