Dieciséis
The sound of the black SUV driving off, the finality of it, will remain with Ernesto forever. Knowing he’d been left there to die hurt worse than the alligator’s teeth tearing off his arm. He wonders if the driver feels any guilt or remorse. Although Ernesto once believed that every human being is worthy of salvation and forgiveness, too much pain and misery has convinced him otherwise.
The blind faith demanded of him by his religion became impossible to accept when it came to his wife, then later, his daughter. Ernesto can still hear Esperanza scolding him for his flagging faith. Her voice rings out clear and with such effusiveness he expects to see her standing in front of him. Not even on her deathbed did she waver in her belief that God would be welcoming her into his embra
