The letter (2)

The four men sat quietly in the room.

Juan handed the envelope to Javier.   He examined it before opening it.  The letter was written in a careful hand.  It read as follows.

“Miguel,

I hope this letter finds you well. 

The man bearing it is your son, Juan.    Juan Miguel Gonzales.

A lifetime has gone since our final parting.  When I last saw you I was carrying this child.  Now he is a man himself.  A good man.

The years have not been kind to me, Miguel.  Although I have reached old age, I have suffered ill-health for most of my life.  We both know the cause of that.  These days, even dogs are not permitted to endure what we did at the hands of our tormentors.  We are lucky to be alive.

When you were moved away I knew I would never see you again.  Years later, when I heard you had survived, I wanted to find you, but it was still dangerous.

Since the fall of the regime, I hoped that you might come to find me and that you would also find your son.  When you didn’t, I realised that you must have a new life.  A new start, as many did.  I didn’t want to cause you or your family any embarrassment.

We are all old now, Miguel, and I have no idea whether you are dead or alive.  I am enduring my final illness.  I know that I haven’t long.  I feel that I have to tell Juan the truth about his past and give him one last chance to know his father.  I didn’t want him to live thinking that he had been conceived with a stranger.

Miguel, I am asking you.  For years I have placed you and your new life first.  Now I ask you to think of your son before it is too late.  Please do this last thing for me.  For him.

Let him know his father.  Both the one I knew and the one I will never know.

I ask this in the name of the love in which he was conceived.

I never ceased to love you.

Dolores.”

Javier rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. 

He looked at Carlos.  "How much more will we have to learn about our old friend?"

The three looked to Juan. His moist eyes were far from Carlos and Javier's apartment.  Far from this town.  Beyond the reach of anyone living.