I woke up thinking of cigarettes and coffee. People were already up and walking around the house. There was a little girl –I knew this only because of her pierced earlobes-…

Soon, I had to say goodbye to Esmeralda as well. "I'm going to take you to Manuel's house," she said. "Who is Manuel?" "He's friends with Juan, your cousin," she…

The woman who walked toward Cecilia's pickup looked serious and quiet. There was something about her brown, deep eyes, olive skin, and even her confident gait. Her dress was a…

My first meal on American soil was scrambled eggs with a drizzle of ketchup, buttered white toast, and black coffee. Cecilia was there, eating with me, and our conversation featured the…

When I landed on American soil, the noise I made was akin to that of a sack of potatoes. I didn't break any bones, although I was ready to face…

Wednesday, November 24, 2004, is the day when I was born for the second time. It was the day I crossed the border and entered the United States of America.…