After Celipin goes to sleep, Nela shuts herself into her basket. She thinks about what Celipin said about Pablo having no use for her anymore, once he gains his sight. That night, she speaks to the Virgin Mary, asking, “why did not you make me beautiful?” (117). She believes that once Pablo gains his sight, no one will have any need for her anymore. However, she does not want to take away the gift of sight from him. She would much rather take her own life, in the same way as her mother did, before Pablo can look upon her. She fears that once Pablo sees her for the first time, he will be disappointed and abandon her. The thought of such abandonment is too big of a heartache to bear. She falls asleep talking to herself.

When Nela wakes up the next morning, she believes that the Virgin Mary has visited her in her dreams. In her morning stupor, she believes momentarily that the Virgin Mary has blessed her with a miracle, making her beautiful, as she has desired. When she checks her reflection, she sees that there is no difference.