The chilly air pricked my skin as I left. The rain pattered my face like tears I was unable to shed. The streets were as deserted as a deserted house, and they went on forever.

I traced her name on the chilly metal armrest of the bench where we used to giggle. My hands were as frigid as ice. It seemed like returning home to a place I had never been to before a place that had once seemed alive but was now quiet and empty.

It was a summer in the year 2024, my brother and I accompanied my dad to work. They offered him a job in Camana with a house included. When my dad finished work we walked near the shore.

The next day we went to the beach to enjoy the waves and see how other families were having fun. In my family it is customary to bring food from home so as not to spend money on the beach, in that case my dad ordered 2 large plates of squid chicharon, if that plate cost.

When we reached the monkey enclosure, I was enchanted by their lively swings and cheerful chatter. They seemed so playful, and I couldn’t resist leaning closer to the bars, ignoring my mom’s cautious warnings.

One monkey, with curious, sparkling eyes, moved towards me. I smiled, thinking it wanted to play. Suddenly, it reached through the bars and grabbed my hair, pulling it hard, shocked, I stumbled back as my heart raced wildly.

Tears filled my eyes, but I quickly understood the lesson, animals in zoos aren’t toys or decorations; they’re living creatures deserving respect and space. From that moment, I always kept my distance.

The shelter didn't smell bad, it smelled like sweet shampoo, maybe banana-scented. My cousin told me it was a magical place, and it really was, because when the dogs looked into your eyes, you could see the happiness and gratitude.

Many dogs had been treated badly, but now they were happy and safe. I felt very sad and very happy at the same time. I just wished that all the dogs could have a happy ending to their sad stories

When I got home, my mom saw me walking funny and asked why I was limping. I told her everything. It was a painful day, like coming home after a long trip, but I will never forget it.

The breakfast that awaited us tasted unusually sumptuous, as if we were rediscovering the delight of a long-forgotten favorite meal. Murmured conversations filled the corridors, echoing the earlier declarations made during times of relentless academic pressure—that no tears would be shed on this day. Yet, the air was thick with a brewing storm of emotion, much like the quiet before a tempest, where the heart swells with a sorrow poised on the edge of release.

The anxiety that had been a constant undercurrent through our years here took on a more profound, almost pathological form. Each part of our daily routine, previously performed with mechanical disinterest, now carried the poignant significance of a last performance. I felt as adrift as a ship lost at sea, the vast ocean of the future lying before me, daunting in its boundless possibilities.

On the basketball court, where we had fiercely competed every day, our games took on the gentleness of a friendly match, each moment deliberately savored, as if trying to capture and preserve every second in our memories. Our chatter, usually light and carefree, now resonated with the gravity of those recounting their greatest adventures at the twilight of their lives.

As the day drew to its inevitable close, even the strongest among us began to show their softer hues, their final words tinged with an intensity of feeling that transformed their stoic masks. Saying goodbye was like watching the slow fade of a vibrant sunset, each streak of light a lingering note of our shared experiences, painting a bittersweet picture of the ties we must leave behind. The air was filled with a mixture of laughter and tears, a vivid testament to the depth of our bonds and the pain of parting.