He left for work the night he died. But he didn’t want to work. He wanted to go dancing. He wanted to kiss. He had an erection that day. She missed his erection, holding it in her hand. The way heat came off it. How after they made love, he allowed her to hold it while they fell asleep. It had been months since they’d made love. There was never enough time. When they found each other in bed, they were so exhausted. But that night, before he died, he had wanted her. As if he knew it would be their last opportunity. He begged her to go dancing. Why couldn’t she have supported him when he said he wanted to return to D.R.? Why had she been so afraid of the possibility? And that stupid table. She didn’t need to fight him. With time, he would’ve gotten tired of it and she could’ve thrown it out and he wouldn’t have noticed.

Esperanza moved to the middle of the bed. She spread her legs and arms, filling up the empty space. She had prayed for Santo to appear, just for his company, so she had someone to talk to. Esperanza kept his ashes on the altar in her room to keep his spirit close. She believed that if she concentrated hard enough, she could feel him press against her back while she slept; that she felt his caress like a warm breeze when she needed comfort. It had been over three years since his death. She had to move on. And if she ever were to return to D.R., she would spread Santo’s ashes so he could rest in peace.

Why couldn’t all of what had happened the past three years be a dream? Like it happened for Pamela when Bobby Ewing died in Dallas. After the fancy funeral and all that crying, after Pamela went off and got married to another man, one year later, it was the beginning of a new season, Pamela was in bed and heard the shower on. Startled, she walked into the bathroom.

Good morning, Bobby Ewing said, sporting that smile of his, as if he had never been gone all that time.

What if tomorrow morning Esperanza would wake up and find her Bobby sleeping in his bedroom? What if Santo would knock at her door, and say, Buenos días, corazón?

Los Llanos

1963

Juan Bosch had lasted seven months in office. The heirs of the former Trujillo government took over and soon after, a number of the Invisible Ones started to disappear.

—What’s happening, Papá? Santo asked Don Chan.

—They want our land. Without Juan Bosch, the government will force us to sell it. They make more profit that way.

—Forget Juan Bosch! Miraluz was sick of the will of the politicians. —We can fight and protect Los Llanos ourselves, right, Santo?

—We would need to arm ourselves then, Santo said.

—Why do you think we found those guns buried under our feet? Don’t you think our ancestors are telling us something? Miraluz said. —My grandfather fought for Los Llanos.