The Moon Child

"She used her magic!" Toro said.

Maria grabbed Miguel's hand. "Let's go!"

Still half-blinded by the blast, Toro and his friends were too dazed to chase after Maria and Miguel as they dashed across a field of palm grass towards the river.

Miguel rowed the boat across the river. He gazed at Maria as she quietly rested by the stern.

"How did you do that?" he asked. "I saw a light bright as lightning exploding around me."

"That's what makes me different from everyone," Maria said. "I was born with certain powers. It is not easy. A burden I must bear?to be different, alone, an outcast in this world."

Their boat glided on the waters. The wind was fresh and serene; nearby were other boats with fishermen hauling in their nets.

"Will I see you again?" Miguel asked.

"I hope so," she said. "But I don't know."

The boat approached the bank on the eastern side. The bakawan trees loomed closer; a kingfisher flew from a branch and dove into the waters with a smooth splash, emerging with a fish in its beak.

Miguel looked at her.

"There is something you want to ask me," she said and smiled. "You want me to tell you what your future is."

"You're a mind reader as well," he said with a laugh.

"People have this yearning to know what lies before them. They think their destinies are obscure and mysterious, and their lives are beyond their control."

"Well isn't it? Things happen in our lives beyond our control."

"That's only the way it seems. Lucila always tells me that what we think and do is what creates our future."

"I want to be a big and strong man," he said. "To fight and punish bullies like Toro. To do good and be a leader of men. A barrio captain like Arturo."

"Arturo is the best man in the barrio," she said with a sweet glow from her eyes.

"Coming from you, I believe it even more."

"Why is that?"

"Because you never lie."

"One must never lie. One must always speak the truth."

"Even if the truth hurts someone you love?"

"Truth and love are inseparable. One cannot exist without the other."

"I like you. But I don't understand you."

"I don't want to be telling the future anymore."

"Why is that?"

"Not many can accept the truth. And those who cannot accept it may do things that destroy themselves and those they love."

The boat touched the shallow sandy banks and rested there. They remained seated, looking at each other and realizing they were friends.

"Thank you for your help," she said. "I never thought anyone from the barrio would be so kind to me."

"Can you tell me something?" he asked. "Will I find a nice and beautiful girl to marry someday? Someone as nice as you?"

Maria blushed. "Such a glib tongue you have for someone so young."

"Can I ask you something else? With your powers do you know what your own future is going to be?"

She did not answer and remained silent for a long time. She gazed at the waters of the river, watching its sparkling sheen as it flowed endlessly, on and on, towards the endless horizon where the boundless seas kissed the eternal skies.

Maria turned and looked at him. "Give me your hand."

"Why?"

"I will tell you what I see."

He gave her his hand and she took it, gripped it, and closed her eyes. After a moment, she gasped with pain, and her body gave a sudden jolt. Wings of darkness passed over her and she blacked out.

She opened her eyes and saw Miguel's frightened face hovering over her.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You fainted," he said in a trembling voice. "You said things. You said I was going to destroy what I loved most. What do you mean? What did you see?" He grabbed her hands. "Tell me, what did you see?"

Maria looked into his eyes, saw the beautiful light of goodness, and it hurt to know how much he was going to suffer. "Trust those you love. Trust them. Do not let your hate and anger blind you and destroy those you love. This is all I can say."

"You saw something you don't want to tell me. Is your moonpower a blessing, or is it a curse?"

She pulled her hands from his grasp, jumped off the boat, waded to her knees in the water, and climbed the banks.