Thenightwassilentasthefullmoonhunghighinthesky,illuminating thetownbelowit.AloneintheazoteastoodMariaClaraandherown thoughts,herfragileheartstirredheavygriefanddespair.Theunfortunate newsofthedeathofherlover,CrisostomoIbarra,alongsidethepainfultruth ofhertrueparentageleftherinaswirlofemotions,andtoaddontoher troubles,shewastobeweddedwithLinares,amanshedidnotlove.Withall ofthesebeingtoomuchforhertobear,shebrokedownintotearsand lamentedhertroublestothenightsky.
“Oh,Lord,thereisnooneeverwhocanfillthevoidinmyheartotherthan Ibarra.”Sheweeped,hertearsglisteningunderthemoonlight“IfItrulydid lovehim,howcouldIhaveletsuchmisfortunesbebroughtontohim?ForI ambutahopelessfoolwhoforeverlovedhim?”Sheliftedhergazetothe moon,tearsstreamingdownhercheeks.“Tellme,Lord,ifheweretostand withmeunderthemoonlight,willheeverforgivemeforthemistakesI’ve made?”
Adeafeningsilencehungintheair,withMariaClarabeingleftaloneinthe azotea,lefttolamentinherreverie.Inwhatfeltlikeforever,arustlefrom whatsoundedlikeanearbyboatshookheroutofherlament.Sheturnedher headtowardsthenoiseandhereyeswidenedinbothsurpriseandhorror,asif shehadseenaghost.Shegasped,disbelievingthatthemanshehadjust prayedformeremomentsagowasstandinginfrontofher.
“Crisostomo,”shegasped.
Justafewstepsawayfromher,themaninquestionlookeddisheveledand grave-afarcryfromhowhecarriedhimselfbefore.“Yes,mylove.Itisme.” Hereplied,carefullytakingafewstepsforwardandreachingouttoholdher handsoncemore.Horrified,MariaClararecoiled,coveringhermouthto stifleanotherwaveofsobs,afraidthatifsheheldhishands,hewouldvanish infrontofher,likeaphantom.“Isthismypunishment?"Sheweeped,wiping awaythetearswellingup.“HasGodsentyoudowntospitemefurtherofall themistakesI’vemade?”
“Iamnotheretohurtyou,mylove.IamonlyheretotellyouthatIhave forgivenyou,andtobidyoufarewell.”Ibarrasaid,withasolemnglintinhis eyes.“Iamtogoaway,andleavethisplaceforever.AmannamedElias helpedmeescape,butIhadfelttheneedtotellyou,”HegentlytookMaria Clara’shands,hopingit’dcomforther,“ThatIholdneithergrudgesnor
resentmenttowardsyou,butonlylove.Icanonlyhopeyouliveahappylife withLinares.Bewell,andbehappyforever,MariaClara.”
“Youcantellmethewholestorysoon,mylove.Wouldyoutrulywanttogo awaywithme?”Ibarraaskedher,hopeseepingthroughhisvoice.Aftera momentofsilence,shenodded,hereyesshiningwithunshedtearsasshe tookadeepbreathandreplied,“Youweresenthereforareason,thatbeingto rescuemefrommyhourofdespair.SolongasIamalive,Ichoosetofollow youwhereveryougo.”
AsoftsmileappearedonhisfaceasCrisostomotookMariaClara’shand, graspingthemtight.“Thenwemusthurry,mylove.Eliasiswaitingforus downbytheriverbank,there’snotimetowaste.”Carefully,Crisostomo climbeddownfromtheazotea,holdinguphishandstoguidedownhislover. “Comedown,watchyourfooting.”
MariaClarasparedonelastglancebacktowardsherhome,hopingthather familywouldunderstandherchoicetorunaway,beforegoingafterherlover withanewfoundhope.Thetwoloverssetoffintothenight,andforthefirst time,MariaClarathought,thismistakewasthebestchoiceshehadmade.