The sun was setting, majestically lowering itself, beautiful on the dusk sky. A woman was walking along the Palanyag River, without aim or purpose. She was wearing a white coat, with a hood. Many people remarked that it made her look like a nun. To that, she replied she couldn't be any more holy than Satan himself with a sweet smile, to which the people responded by looking awkwardly and running away. But blasphemous jokes aside, this coat was a hand-me-down from long ago, and she always found it comfortable to wear. A living memory of her long-forgotten past.

The woman then sat on the bank of the Palanyag, staring into the settlement across. The river was flowing faster, since the tide was coming, therefore she couldn't dip her feet in the water.  So, instead, she just sat there, nearly lay down, and thought about the world. 

Unlike other people who just ponder about things and do nothing, she's the kind of person to act on her philosophy. That spark in her soul, although she usually tries to stop it, has brought her to a lot of places and let her have various experiences. 

One of them just happened last week, when she directly challenged the Kastilas in a debate that became physical real quick. She, like many others who were living in bad conditions were tired of condescending friars and Peninsulares. Luckily, she escaped the situation eventually. But not before being arrested by the Guardia Civil, and escaping when she was given a chance by one of the soldiers loyal to the revolutionary cause.

Recently, she went through the idea of the existence of a supreme deity. On one hand, she realized it was impossible that a being that we can't see or hear from can exist, otherwise it would be a myth. The colonizers called the bathalas a myth, but it's the same as Christianity anyway. What's the difference? They even used the belief of a God to oppress the country.

She stood up, rustling the grass around her. Wiping off the dirt and dead leaves from herself, she wore her boots again and walked on, continuing her thought. She started talking to herself

"But, I mean belief in a god gives hope. I saw many people hang on and get better because they believe in God. People still love God, because it gives them a reason to go on."

She looked on beyond the river, with the kids running around and the fishermen meeting their wives again after a long day. The sun gave its last rays for today amidst the pink and orange backdrop. The village was becoming lively as the sun went down and dinner was being cooked

"Like these people."

She reached the bend of the river. There she saw the town's graveyard, slowly becoming decrepit. Once more, she sat on the grass and quietly stared at the horizon. "God has been used as a potent force. But that force is dangerous too. It's so powerful, yet so fragile. Yet, no matter what He can or cannot do, He's important."

She sighed. Her mind suddenly went to the yesteryears, when things were less peaceful, and she was caught up in the world's evil whirlwind. First being taken from her home, forced to take up different professions to continue providing enough for herself and by doing so travelling from city to city. 

She saw many horrendous events and experienced some of them, yet she never forgot the happiness of from where she came from. She clutched her necklace as she looked at the tombstone. It was for a man from the village who was fighting against local guerrillas. 

"I lost someone dear to me. If God existed, He knows it's my destiny to find her"

When she looked closer, the tombstone read: "Reposar en paz. Él murió valientemente. Él murió por nosotros."

"No matter what."  

She stood up, with her white coat flowing with the air. As she walked back to the Ibayo, the bells tolled from behind her. Alas sais. El Ángelus.