July 1492
Diego de San Gil quietly entered the empty kitchen of his father’s house. His first visit since his conversion two days before. He had been cautioned by various clerics, about associating with persons of the Jewish faith. The church hierarchy was fearful that the newly baptized could easily be convinced to return to their old ways. The admonition was issued at the mandatory church service he attended the day after he was baptized. This was why he had spent the last two nights at the Port of Palos, where Colon’s ships were being outfitted.
Guessing his father and brother were working on some last-minute project, he decided not to disturb them, but wait until they were finished.
As he waited, memories of happier times began to consume him, a dreadful sadness overwhelmed him. In two weeks he would be boarding one of Colon’s ships for good, leaving his home, his family, and the woman he loved.
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JOSEPH HOBESH
“Ay de mi! ” he sighed. Why is life so trying and confused.
All he really wanted was to marry Elena. Continue the printing business his father and brother worked so hard to establish, have children, and be allowed to raise them as he saw fit; in the religion of his choosing.
As Diego dwelled upon the path his life had taken, his thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of someone entering the house from the print shop.
Ink stained and preoccupied with the material they had just finished printing, Benjamin and David entered the kitchen where Diego was sitting. On seeing each other they all rushed into each other’s arms and began to speak at once. Once the emotional greeting subsided, David, with his arms around both of his sons, quietly said, “Everyone, wash up and get ready for the noon meal.”
Sitting in their small courtyard, with remnants of the noon meal strewn about the table, they leisurely drank their last glass of wine before siesta. Talk subsided, then suddenly stopped, the reality of what was going to occur in just a few short weeks began to make itself felt. Realization of what was happening to their lives began to take hold. David began to softly weep.
“Will we never see or be together again,” Benjamin muttered.
Joshua, losing control completely, disconsolate, began to weep, for himself, the woman he loved, his father and brother.
Plans regarding the disposition of their property would have to wait until they all had time to grieve for themselves and each other.
* * *
The next evening Diego de San Gil left the house of his birth for the last time. Burned into his memory and heart the final goodbyes to his father and brother, the sadness he would never forget, or ever ease.98
SEPHARDIC FAREWELL
Nothing had been resolved regarding their property. They would do what they could, in the time left to them, take what they could, and leave what they could not. But most important, all agreed, that they try to find each other, in any way possible, after they had settled into their new lives, wherever that might be.
Diego now faced his final and hardest goodbye. Elena, would she be able to see him? The San Miguel home was very close, adjacent to the Halavi courtyard. Close as it was, it might as well have been a million miles away.
As he headed towards the San Miguel, home he thought, Elena’s family would never allow me to see her, but he had to try.
Maybe one of the servants would take her the letter he had already written.
Making his way to the wall surrounding the villa, Diego followed it to a location below a window he thought opened onto Elena’s room. Quickly realizing his mistake after throwing the first tentative pebble at the window, Diego saw Antonio, Elena’s brother, at the window. Alarmed, he began looking for a place to hide, stopped and thought, Why should I hide? I love Elena, and that, they cannot change.
Defiantly standing his ground, he looked up, saw Antonio motion him to be quiet, and to remain where he was. In a few moments he was joined by Antonio, who greeted him, if not cordially, polite enough, to cause Diego to wonder.
What does he want of me? Cautiously Diego approached Antonio .
“I am sorry if I disturbed you, Antonio, but I must speak to Elena. My journey begins in a very short while.”
Suppressing, with great difficulty, the anger he felt towards Joshua, Antonio also felt an immense pity for the man who had so profaned his sister, and he allowed the pity to temper his anger.
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JOSEPH HOBESH
“Joshua, you should not be here, if my father ever finds out what…” Stopping himself before he could say any more, Antonio quickly changed the subject. “I apologize, Señor Diego, I should not have used your former name. But my sister cannot see you now or at any other time. I ask you, please leave without causing any further disturbance.”
Before Diego could reply, Don Miguel, from his bedroom window, was shouting, “Antonio, who is it, what is happening out there?”
“It is my father, you must leave now, Diego.”
“I’m going, but please see that Elena gets this letter, it may be the last word she has from me.”
Handing the letter to Antonio, Diego, as he left, heard Antonio whisper, “I will, y via con Dios, mi amigo. ” He then quickly answered his father. “It is nothing, Father, just some cat or dog trying to find something to eat, go back to bed, it is gone now.”
“Bueno… good, Antonio, now you get to bed, then maybe the rest of us will be able to sleep.”
“Buenos noches, Papa,” Antonio replied as he quickly and quietly made his way to Elena’s room.
Hoping Elena was still awake, he softly knocked on her door, breathing a sigh of relief when he heard the rattle of the door as it opened. Elena silently motioned him to enter. Not speaking until the door was shut, Elena sensed that Antonio had something important to tell her. Possibly some word from Diego.
Maybe he was not going to leave after all!
“What is it, Antonio, what was happening out there?”
“Calma ti…calm yourself, Elena, Diego was here. It seems he mistook my window for yours. I had to send him away. If Papa found out…he asked me to give you this letter.”
Seeing the anger in his sister’s face as he handed her the letter, Antonio began to stammer. Then finally blurted out what he had witnessed the day of Joshua’s baptism.
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SEPHARDIC FAREWELL
Elena, shocked beyond words, blushed a crimson red, and felt her whole world crumbling about her.
“Were you spying on me, Antonio?” she began to shout.
Quickly taking her into his arms, he held her tightly and whispered, “No I wasn’t, I just happened to be there. I will tell no one. Now be quiet, do not make any more noise or Mama and Papa will hear us. Surely then, we will have much to explain.”
Leaving her brother’s arms, Elena remembered the letter she still clutched in her hands, tore it open and began to read.
Cara mia Elena,
Of all the pain and sadness, this life has brought us, leaving you is by far the most painful and saddest. My heart is heavy, my eyes weep, the day of my leaving arrives to soon, and I will be gone. Think of me often, pray for my safe return, the memory of you and our love lives in my heart forever.
Diego
As she read the final words of Diego’s letter, Elena began to weep and moan, her heart broken, she felt, beyond hope of ever mending.
Antonio, fearful of waking their parents, spoke softly to her.
“Elena, he is gone, there is nothing you can do or say that will change that fact. Learn to accept it, move on with your life.”
Staring beyond her brother, Elena softly whispered, “No, Antonio, without him there is no life for me.” She began sobbing. “I cannot go on without him.”
“You must, for the family’s sake. Promise that you will do whatever is necessary to see that no shame can be associated with the family name. Promise me, Elena!”
“I promise, now leave me, Antonio.”
Relenting, Antonio, drained of emotion, spoke very softly. “I will help in any way that I can, Elena, I…”
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JOSEPH HOBESH
“Just go, Antonio.”
Nothing more would be accomplished tonight, Antonio decided. Leaving Elena, he quietly made his way to his own room, and for sure a sleepless night.
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