This story was awarded third place in the 2020 ‘Journey Around the House’ narrative contest. This is my story about how I lived through the pandemic away from the comforts of home.

At the hospital with my cancer-stricken father, I met Cristopher Ruiz, a young man with metastatic testicular cancer. He was always alone. We became friends through this undesirable circumstance.

Adulthood hit me at 23, not 30. Earning little as a publisher, I had to cover house costs. A month of lentils was par for the course.

A vibrant and evocative piece about the role of bars and music in the urban fabric of Caracas, Venezuela. This piece weaves personal anecdotes with the city’s pulse.