— All right, Pablo Lorenzo, tell me your story —said Ruwi, his eyes shining with curiosity as the warm afternoon light filtered through the windows, illuminating the small living room where they were gathered. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee floated in the air, mixing with the laughter and soft murmurs that accompanied the conversation.
Pablo Lorenzo, sitting in front of them, gazed for a moment at the horizon through the window, as if the words about to leave his mouth were harder to admit than he wanted. Finally, he began to recount his life in a low but clear voice, as if the shadows of the past still lingered in his mind.
He was born on September 15, 2006, in Chichayo, a place surrounded by green mountains and golden fields bathed in sunlight. There, he lived happily with his parents, James and Gladys, who provided him with a peaceful and loving life. However, that balance was shattered on a tragic day when, while the family was traveling in their car, an accident with a bus changed everything forever. Pablo survived, but his parents were not as lucky.
— Oh, I'm so sorry about your parents —said Daniel, with a serious look and a gentle pat on Pablo's back. The sounds from outside, like the singing birds and the wind rustling the tree branches, grew more distant as the sadness of the story settled in the air.
— Don't worry, I've already overcome it —Pablo Lorenzo replied with a smile that, though sad, reflected an unexpected strength. His eyes, fixed on the floor for a moment, returned to meet the gaze of his friends.
He grew up under the loving care of his uncles, Andrés and Olga, who, though already elderly, provided him with a home full of tenderness and wisdom. With their white hair and hands wrinkled by time, they guided him with patience and love. At the age of 12, after the tragedy, Pablo enrolled in a new school. It was there that he met Camila, a girl with whom he quickly formed an unbreakable friendship.
— Ah, how could I forget when you tried to climb that tree and ended up falling! —Camila laughed, her warm laughter filling the room, like the sound of bells on a clear morning. Her face was lit up with the joy of remembering those innocent days.
— Please, don't remind me —Pablo Lorenzo responded, blushing as his gaze shifted away, trying to evade the topic. The laughter that followed filled the air with complicity.
However, Pablo Lorenzo's story took a darker turn. As he grew closer to Camila, a group of classmates started bullying him because of his orphan status. Despite trying to ignore it, the situation became increasingly unbearable. One day, he decided to tell his uncles about what was happening. Worried, they chose to transfer him to another school.
— I understand how you feel; I also suffered from bullying when I was 11 —said Ruwi, his eyes softening with empathy. The sunset light began to turn more golden, casting elongated shadows on the floor of the room.
Pablo Lorenzo continued his story, mentioning that despite the hardships, he managed to excel in all subjects and became the best student at his new school. However, life didn't let him rest for long. The passing of his uncles came afterward, leaving him with the house he had grown up in and 12,000 soles that would help him pay for his studies.
— Wow, your story is incredible —said Daniel, his gaze filled with admiration as he nodded slowly. The warm light enveloping the room seemed to reinforce the feeling of respect and appreciation for Pablo Lorenzo.
Jesús, who had remained silent until then, smiled softly as he watched his friends talking and enjoying each other's company. The evening air was peaceful and filled with a sense of calm, as if the life stories shared between them had woven an unbreakable bond. Everything around them felt like a place where the deepest friendships are born: in a cozy corner, where love, empathy, and strength intertwined.