The Day of the Moon

The Day of the Moon Read Online Free PDF Page B

Book: The Day of the Moon Read Online Free PDF
Author: Graciela Limón
through the different parts of the mass. At the exchange of vows, everyone craned their necks, turning their ears in the direction of the altar, trying to see and hear what was happening. A few were able to glimpse Flavio putting the ring on Velia Carmelita’s finger. Later others heard parts of her vows as the words floated up toward the gilded cupola that towered above the altar.
    Brígida alone sat rigidly; she did not stand or kneel during the mass but kept her place, seemingly paralyzed and unmoving. When it began, she had stood along with the rest of the congregation,and because she was seated by the aisle, she was able to see Velia Carmelita closely as she walked by on her way toward Flavio. Brígida’s eyes saw through the flimsy veil and captured the beauty of that face: olive-colored skin, round, full lips, Grecian nose, and hair the color of chestnuts.
    Velia Carmelita’s eyes were like none ever seen by Brígida. They were light brown and seemed to be gazing from heaven toward the altar. As she walked past her, Brígida examined the high, firm breasts outlined by the silk gown, and she was assaulted by an inexplicable impulse to reach out, put her hands on them, caress them, kiss them.
    By the time Velia Carmelita reached Flavio, Brígida had been compelled to sit: The blood in her temples was pounding with such force as to make her dizzy, and she was afraid of falling. When she sat down, she closed her eyes, confused, not understanding the whirlwind of emotion that had overtaken her. She had never felt such sentiments: a mix of love, desire, happiness, wretchedness, tenderness and shame collided in her heart. Velia Carmelita’s beauty had touched Brígida’s soul as nothing else had in her life.
    â€œCor Jesu sacratissimum, miserere nobis.”
    The mass ended. The triumphant musical notes of the orchestra tore through the upper reaches of the church and the congregation stood, happy and relieved that the long ceremony had come to a close and that now the much anticipated ball would begin. Everyone crowded after the couple, trying to squeeze out the front portals of the church. They wanted to touch, embrace, express good wishes and congratulations to the bride and groom. Only Brígida remained seated, riveted and bewildered by the emotions she had experienced during the mass.
    The celebration lasted until sunrise of the next day. Don Plutarco and Doña Domitila had left nothing undone to make the ball the most memorable in those parts. The food and drink was of the best, and the music was in the latest fashion from Vienna and Paris. Eligible men waltzed with young women, flirting, eyeing each other, enjoying the fiesta of the season. Flavio danced withVelia Carmelita over and again because he wanted her to feel the desire that he was feeling. He smiled at her, made small talk, teased, squeezed her gloved hand. Yet instead of warming to him, she became stiffer and more remote with each hour.
    On the other side of the hall, Brígida also danced because she was beautiful, and many of the men wanted to strike up a connection with the sister of Don Flavio Betancourt. She danced, but her mind was absorbed by Velia Carmelita. She constantly searched the crowded dance floor until she made out her brother and his new wife. Brígida wanted to go to her, put her arms around her, tell her how she felt. Instead she forced herself to dance with whoever asked her. It made no difference. Every one of those men was equally repugnant to her.
    When it was time for Flavio and Velia Carmelita to retire, a hush came over the guests. She went first to her father, then to her mother. There were kisses and blessings:
Que Dios te bendiga, hija.
As the bride and groom disappeared down the corridor to the private chambers of the hacienda, the music struck up again and the fiesta continued. Only Brígida, once more, remained seated.
    When they were in the room, Flavio coaxed Velia Carmelita to come
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