(West Wing: Forty minutes before the assault.)
     

Warden Protacio felt his belly rumble. The biscuits Melinda gave them earlier truly failed its purpose. He slowly stood from his reclining chair and walked towards his office door. A sudden gush of wind kissed his cheek when he stepped outside, he looked around and saw that Melinda had curled into a corner, clearly in deep sleep. The warden shook his head and went back in. He was perhaps hungry, but there was no way he would wake the young woman for it.
     
Desperate to calm his screaming stomach, he picked up another letter and began to read.
                                                       
***

Dear Maria,
     
My love, how are you? This year, I will transfer to San Fernando Correctional. I'm pleased, I'm truly eager. I never wanted to be a part of the Blood Brothers. I see this move as a way to escape their claws.
     
I kept smiling Maria, it had been a very long time since I felt this happy. A mind that's free of worry and full of clarity. A heart that is excited for what's about to come. But don't fret Maria; you still hold the biggest space in my heart and mind; just let me be free for now.
     
This emotion, I remember having it a long time ago.
     
Do you remember where I left off in my previous letter?
     
Oh yes, David.
     
Well, that kid was a lot, and I mean a lot to handle. If you and I had a son, he would probably be like.... sorry, I didn't mean to dream that far.
     
Let me continue with my story. After my talk with David, he brought me to his father and asked him if he and his friend could perform surgery on me. David's father was the doctor who had been taking care of me when I was injured. He was also the same man who found me inside the woods.
     
He agreed and they set the date of my operation two weeks after our talk. I had no photo of myself and that posed a problem. Luckily, David, with his loud mouth, suggested that his father could give his older brother's face to me, a brother he lost during the war. I don't know why, but his father agreed.
     
When they showed me a photo of him Maria, I felt so happy and excited. He was handsome. Very handsome, and it will soon become my new face. I will finally have a face that you can be proud of. A face that will no longer be associated with the robber. A face that will give me the strength to walk up to you and say, "I have always loved you."
     
Those moments were the happiest I've ever been, aside from the thought of you of course. Your memories inside my head far exceeded anything. Nothing Maria, nothing will ever come close to the joy your name and memories gave me.
     
Anyway, a week before the surgery, the pastor took me inside his chamber and gave me one of the weirdest talks of my life.
     
The pastor had a serious look on his face and it scared me. I thought he was rethinking sending me to prison, but I soon realized that it was not his intention when he opened the backpack I owned. It was where I kept the money my father stole. He asked me about it, and well, he was a priest, I can't lie to a priest. So, I told him the truth.
     
He then questioned me about you. He said David had told him why I killed that man. He carried a serious look when he asked, "How much do you love her?"
     
I told him you cannot be bought Maria; how dare he say how much!"
     
But he suddenly laughed at me and said, "You truly are, young." At that time, I had no idea what he was talking about, he confused me.
     
Then he began to pace around the room and suddenly asked, "Why is an eighteen-year-old prancing about, teasing life as if it were a foolish game?"
     
I had no answer to that because I truly didn't understand.
     
But he suddenly turned to face me, and in nearly a whisper, he said, "Life is a precious thing. I may have thanked you for what you have done, but I do not condone killing in any way."
     
He baffled me, I had no idea what he wanted me to say, so I remained silent.
     
The pastor then walked up to me; what he said next calmed my heart but saddened me at the same time.
     
He took my backpack, zipped it back up, and handed it to me while saying, love has always been associated with bloodshed. Our creator watched his Son shed his blood to save mankind to prove his love. Women bleed when they decide to allow their love to come to fruition, and so again will she when delivering the life she held dear inside her. Knights spilt blood to protect and express their love for a king they barely knew or met. Soldiers died and were killed to protect the country they love so much. So, who am I to judge a man for killing someone to avenge their loved one?
     
He then placed a hand on my shoulder and murmured, “But my boy, keep this in mind. Humans change when we're caught in the claws of love. We become unstable, like weak and shifting sand, a simple crash from a tiny wave is enough to break us. So, you must learn to hold yourself together. Learn to control the need and rage of emotions within you. There may be times when instead of shedding blood or bleeding for love, you should learn to turn the other cheek and walk away.”
     
"I can never walk away from Maria." That was my answer to him.
     
He smiled and gave my head a light pat. Then he said, “There are so many songs inside you that still need to be heard; the lyrics, though, you will only learn as you grow older."
     
After that Maria, he asked me to join him for dinner. He never spoke of those words again throughout my stay. Even when I bid him goodbye and proceeded to mount the small cart that would take me, David, and his father to the next town, he didn’t say a word. The only thing that the pastor gave as I left was a sweet smile.
     
That smile reminded me of something my mother used to give me. It meant something, what it is though, I couldn't discern. But the one thing I was certain of, is the pastor believed he gave me something important, just like my mother when she knew she gave me a good lunchbox.
     
Maria? I'm here! I'm finally relocated to San Fernando Correctional! I got my room. A cell just for myself, like a private room! I got 247! I like the number I got, it has a certain ring to it, don't you think? I love it, but I love you more.
     
Merry Christmas Maria! How are the kids? Is Valerie still living with you? Time flies, doesn't it? Is she doing well in school? What about Sheldon? I hope he didn't take after his... Oh, I'm sorry Maria. I'm sorry.
     
Merry Christmas! I love you.

Love forever

Your Silent Knight