THE BRAVERY OF MERCEDES (from Pan’s Labyrinth)
JUST FOR WOMEN'S MONTH. . .Although a somewhat minor character in the film Pan's Labyrinth, the housekeeper/rebel Mercedes stands out as one of the story's strongest characters who loves Ofelia, perhaps even more than the young girl's mother.
She slices the captain’s cheekfrom tragus to lipwith a willingness and skillshe gleaned from gutting pigs. Her courage makes me wantto see how she saw,feel what she felt,but to do that I’d have to endure the anguishshe suffered, watching a mantake joy in torture, slaughterthe innocents she tried to save. Conscience rests on my chestlike a concrete pillow.I feel the tickle of guiltat the base of my neck, like a guillotine bladethat cleaves my throatand severs my headfrom its body.