The Argentine

Two different places,
Two total strangers
Their names started with “J.”
Whose birthdays were on September.
And whose parallel lives met.
One was 14 and the other 21
The latter was a man
The former was a girl

A Latin Story unlike any other
It’s not about love or dating
But of a strong friendship
That defeats distance and borders.

An argentine with a strong heart
Who looked upon this girl.
He ignored her face and stared at her soul
He asked a thousand questions.
To which she responded like a grown adult.

She liked speaking with him
Because he truly listened

One day she was scared
Her quinceañera was coming
She was not sure whether she wanted to be a woman.
Her heart had so many wounds
She grieved them in silence.

The argentine heard her crying
Asked what was wrong
And told her to trust him.
In her desperation, she opened up to him
She spoke of hate, betrayal, and pain
Of a father who abandoned her.

The Argentine was silent
He had no words.
There was so much torment
Behind her black eyes of hers.
He, too, shared his heart
A friendship was born.

Speaking in dialects
Watching soccer games
Cussing at Brazil,
Eating pupusas and asado
While screaming GOL
They spoke about nothing…
But it was their everything.

He taught her how to laugh.
Live and love.
To follow her heart
She was his little princess, his bebe.

It was never his intention to hurt her.
But he crushed her spirits
He screamed at her
He told her to go away
He said the most evil things
Speaking of love, fear and anger.

Everyone stalked her heart
But nonetheless she stayed
She wouldn’t leave him
She loved him.

Her mother found out.
She was too young,
He was too old
And their friendship was lost.

Life goes on, so did she.
Her heartbeat became soft
Almost dead.
She never listens to it anymore
Thus hence she lives by logic;
Avoiding feelings and following her brain.

Meanwhile in Rosario, Argentina
There sits a man by the Parana River
Looking up north, longing to hear
His princess laugh...