Things had been quiet lately in the Lagoon. Ernesto did not mind it for a while, it was relaxing, but eventually he had grown bored, like a child sat in front of the television for too long. He had grown restless, watching the women sneak away one by one.

It never escaped him when one of them disappeared. Although he never looked like he was paying much attention, Ernesto knew who was here and who wasn’t. Occasionally he even heard someone when they were creeping away, or caught a glimpse of movement through the foliage – but he never tried to intercept them, let alone stop them.

Despite his enthusiasm in getting ladies’ attention, Ernesto had never had much interest in keeping them prisoner if they didn’t want to stay.

Cherish was gone too. He missed her, just a little bit. She had been avoiding him since their strange interaction the last time they spoke, always on the move whenever he caught a glimpse of her. He didn’t bother to pursue her any more than in passing.

He needed to set his sights on new horizons.

That was what was on his mind that day as he wandered through the Lagoon. He was soon distracted, however, as he caught sight of Augustine a little way away. A soft nicked escaped Ernesto’s nostrils to grab the boy’s attention as he approached his son.

He had grown so much since that first time Ernesto had seen him – a spindly, delicate little thing, all legs and nose. A youthful, coltish look about his face still betrayed his young age, but all in all he was a man now. They were the same height, similar in build now that his son had filled out – he saw little notions of himself here and there in the boy, despite their day and night colouring.

“Mi hijo,” he greeted as he neared him, a soft lilt in his warm voice. “I thought you might have gone after your mother.”

ernesto
heartbreak is savvy and love is a bitch