Chapter 57

AURORA. Late at night, the weight of recent events bore heavily upon my thoughts. The idea of a copyright collaboration had not only ignited my professional ambitions but also unleashed a flood of memories that had long been confined to the recesses of my mind. A constant name surfaced amidst the turbulent thoughts that plagued me—Mateo. I lay in bed, my abuela next to me, the dim light from the streetlamp outside casting long shadows across my room. Memories of our past together flooded my consciousness. The sweetness of our shared moments clashed with the bitter recollection of how brutally he had ended our relationship. It was a painful wound that had never fully healed. Lola had advised that I should ignore whatever grievances I held towards him for my benefit but it was easier said than done, wasn’t it? I was not ready to put myself in a position where I could get hurt all over again. As I tossed and turned in bed, sleep eluded me. The clock ticked away the hours, each minute