“You don’t owe me anything.
You gave me your jacket.
You were colder.
You gave me your food, too.
Mauritius smiled.
You don’t remember that.
My mom told me. He found out later.
Patricia was sitting within walking distance.
He didn't interrupt.
Emiliano pulled the ruby out of his pocket.
They had cleaned it, but had not changed the old frame.
I want you to see it.
Mauricio took it.
It seemed different.
Maybe because I was finally where I was supposed to be.
He gave it back.
“Now take better care of it.
Emiliano smiled.
“I will.
Patricia didn't try to give Mauricio an envelope full of money.
I knew that would have reduced the whole story to a transaction.
Instead, he asked what he needed to get back on his feet.
Mauricio answered honestly.
I don’t know.
That's how they started.
Step by step.
He received medical attention first.
He had been ignoring several minor problems for years that had accumulated.
He then got a temporary room in a private support house that worked with people trying to regain stability.
Emotional accompaniment also began.
At first I hated talking about his family.
During the first sessions he could barely pronounce his daughter’s name.
But he kept attending.
Patricia also located two former companions from Mauritius.
One of them, Roberto, remained silent for several seconds when he heard his name.
“Mauritius Salgado?”
"Yes.
We thought he was dead.
When they met again, Roberto cried before him.
“You were the best in an emergency,” he said.
Mauricio shrugged.
“He was someone else.
"No.
Roberto put a hand on his shoulder.
“It was you.
That phrase stayed with Mauritius for days.
It was you.
You weren’t “better.”
You weren’t “someone important.”
Just you.
Little by little he began to accept that the man who had been had not completely disappeared.
I was still there.
Buried under years of pain, shame and abandonment.
The first few months were not perfect.
There were mornings when Mauricio didn't want to get up.
Days when he walked to the support center and stayed ten minutes in front of the door before entering.
One night he went out with the intention of returning to the place where he used to sleep.
Roberto found him sitting on a bench.
What are you doing here?
Mauricio looked at the ground.
I can’t live any other way.
