an open letter for my friends from berlin

part 1. Michael

Michael, or should I say, maicol:

I remember perfectly the first day that I met you, I was so nervous, it was or first day of school, September 4th.

I was sitting in the weird thingy they have for school assembles and stuff, I was sitting with my uncle, he was translating everything to me, cause, surprise! I did not know a thing about german.

Ms. Hebenstreit started calling our names, and I was between excited and really nervous, like panicking, yeah it was definitely the second one.

We were seated right next to each other, or did I seat next to you? I actually don’t remember, we were sitting, and the teacher started speaking fluent german, and that’s a whole other thing, I remember not understanding anything.

At one point she turned to us, I guess to introduce us to the class, and she started speaking English, she said that you were from the US, I turned around and asked.

“Do you speak English?” my eyes full of hope, you could say.

You answered yes, and we started talking, you were form Fort Wayne, Indiana, I had absolutely no clue where it was, I told you I was from Mexico, we talked until the bell rang, and we did not know what to do next.

My memory is failing me, cause I don’t know if Antonina approached us or if we approached her, but she told us where we had to go, at what time, she was really nice from the start, I miss her.

At one point we had a break, I told you I knew a good café just around the corner, so we walked over there, backpacks on, talking about Germany and host families, two foreigners on the same adventure.

I remember that you started drinking coffee because of me, that day you added me on snapchat, I remember distinctly you saying, “hey add me on snapchat man”, I remember walking home that day, filming myself on snapchat, talking about my day, so I could tell my friends back home about my new friend.

I’m so glad I met you, and I feel like I don’t tell you enough, I feel like you don’t hear it enough, and I could tell you over and over again and I want you to believe me, I’m so glad I met you and I love you with all of my heart.

I miss you a lot and I think about you a lot, its really weird cause sometimes ill see something, its usually a café, and I’ll think “Oh, Michael would love this” or “oh michael would think that’s funny” and oh boy does it hurt, cause I cant go to school and tell you about it, I have to text it to you and its hurtful, but its okay cause I know you’re there forever, and im so so grateful for that.

Thank you, I love you.