I remember the day I first arrived in la 20 de Noviembre, it was a rainy day like most days. It wasn't anything like I had imagined it would be. It was bare and dull, unlike the bright and lively image I had in my head. The roads weren't paved and some streets didn't have any lights. It was also very small with a measly population of 952 people. My house was at the base of a small group of mountains. When I made it to the top I could see the entire colony, all 952 of its inhabitants as well as two larger cities that surrounded mine.
The entire colony was deprived of any Internet connection, all except for one house that had eight computers and would let anyone use them for 10 pesos an hour. I was only allowed to use them for homework. The town was very simple, one tortilleria, a couple grocery stores, one supply store and a few miscellaneous stands that sold stuff on the side of the highway that led to Apan, the closest of the two large cities that surrounded us.
They also had one school, a Telesecundaria, which is a type of school that transmits lessons via satellite on a television to middle and high school students. I was lucky enough to not have to attend this school but instead travel to one of the other large surrounding cities for school. One day on my way back from my first day at school I encountered someone who was wearing the same uniform as me. He approached me and introduced himself. His name was Julian.
From the very beginning, I noticed that he was charming and had an infectious laugh. I hadn't realized it then but he told me that we were in the same class. Class 1-G from the Engineering magnet at CBtis No. 59 Miguel Hidalgo High School. He pointed at the opposite side of the town and showed me where he lived. He would very soon become my best friend. We spent so much time together, people were starting to joke that we were a couple.
On weekends there wasn't much to do so we spent our days exploring the mountains and the canyons that surrounded it. We would go with my two dogs to pick cactus pears and to bring back firewood to burn in my backyard. Near the top, we found a huge tree. We would sit there while we ate our cactus pears and watched the sunset. My two dogs, Lobo and Peluche, would run around yanking at each others tails while Julian would talk to me about all the girls he thought he had a chance with from school. I, of course, being the great best friend I was, entertained his fantasies and even encouraged him to shoot his shot.
When I first arrived in la 20 de Noviembre, I didn't think I would become as fond of it as I did. I later realized that there was nothing special about this town; the magic I saw in it was because of Julian. On my last day, Julian took me back to the large tree, which now had a tire swing attached to it. We swung in it and talked, reflecting on the past year, for what seemed like hours. When we saw that the sun was starting to go down we knew that it was time to part ways for the last time.
He took me in his arms, begging me not to go. I had tears in my eyes and explained that New York was my home and that it was where I needed to be. As we were approaching my house, he stopped me and reached in his pocket. He said he was going to give me one of his most prized possessions to make sure that I never forgot him. It was his rosary. At this point, I started to tear up again but held it in as I hugged him for the last time.
After he left I went to my room, which was full of suitcases and empty walls. I fell on my sheetless bed and started crying, holding the rosary in my hand close to my chest.
