“Do you remember a girl named Mariana López?”
The woman frowned.
“That name is very common…
Alejandro nodded.
I had heard that too many times before.
He was about to say goodbye when the woman spoke again.
“But… wait.
Alejandro looked up.
“There was a Mariana here many years ago.
A dark-haired girl, very sweet.
He always shared his food with other children.
Alejandro’s heart raced.
“Do you know what happened to her?”
The woman thought for a few seconds.
—Your family had financial problems… they moved.
But I think his grandmother still lives around here.
Alejandro felt a blow in his chest.
“Where?”
The woman pointed to a nearby street.
“A blue house at the end of the street.
Alejandro walked there.
Each step seemed heavier than the last.
The blue house was small.
Worn paint.
A small garden with flowers.
And an older woman sitting in a chair by the door.
She looked at him curiously.
“Yes?”
Alejandro felt his voice become softer.
“Excuse me… are you Mariana López’s grandmother?”
The woman’s eyes widened slightly.
“Yes… It’s me.
“My name is Alejandro Torres.
There was a silence.
The woman observed him carefully.
And then something changed in his expression.
“Alejandro?”
He nodded, surprised.
The woman smiled with excitement.
“The boy with the fence!”
Alejandro felt a lump in his throat.
“Mariana… is it here?
The woman shook her head softly.
Alejandro’s heart sank.
But she continued to speak.
“He doesn’t live here.
But he comes every Sunday.
Today is Sunday.
Alejandro felt the world stand still.
“Will you come 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 go down.
And then he heard the sound of footsteps.
Alejandro looked up.
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