But she kept talking.
“He doesn’t live here.
But he comes every Sunday.
Today is Sunday.
Alejandro felt as if the world had stopped.
“Are you coming today?”
“In a few hours.”
Alejandro decided to wait.
He sat on a small bench in front of the house.
The hours passed slowly.
The sun began to set.
And then he heard the sound of footsteps.
Alejandro looked up.
A woman was walking down the street with a shopping bag.
Dark hair.
Dark skin.
And a discreet smile.
When he looked up and saw Alejandro…
He stopped.
They both remained still.
As if time had stopped.
Mariana was the first to speak.
“Alejandro?”
He felt something break inside him, in his chest.
“YES.
He approached slowly.
She looked at him in disbelief.
“It can’t be…”
Alejandro took the small frame out of his pocket.
The red ribbon.
Mariana’s eyes filled with tears.
“You kept that…”
“All these years.
An emotionally charged silence ensued.
Finally Mariana smiled.
“I thought you’d forgotten.”
Alejandro shook his head.
