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another job.
    During the first week, everything went well. His applications were received by several places without many complications. He only had to wait for a call telling him the good news that he’d been hired since some companies had given him many reasons to hope, and better yet—these were great and well-paying jobs.
    That weekend, on the way to Zina’s house, something would happen that would forever change the course of their lives.

The Price of Being
An Immigrant  
    That Friday was a normal day. Luis went out in search of work like any other day. He visited several local companies hoping to soon be welcomed on board since two weeks had passed and he was still unemployed. His cash reserves were nearly depleted but he couldn’t afford not to send money—at least for Grandma’s medicine. He came home around three in the afternoon a little excited about the responses he received from the last applications he filed. A local company had almost assured that he would begin to work in about two weeks’ time. It prompted him to call his friend Norberto to ask for a little bit of money to send to his grandmother in Mexico. Soon, his friend went to pick him up and accompanied him to remit the money at a Western Union branch at Foothill Avenue in Sylmar. Luis felt a little bit relieved.
    It was unusual for Luis to call Mexico on a Friday. He would normally call on Saturdays or Sundays since he was either in school or at work during weekdays. That afternoon, he was very happy with the results of his job application. He decided to call and share his happiness. The call surprised his grandmother, who thought for a moment that something was wrong.
    “How are you, my Sweet Granny ? I sent some money for your medicines and a little extra to buy some soda. I know how much you like them, but I want you to please be sure to take your medicines because you know how important they are for your health. I’m about to go visit you. I want to see you in very good condition since we will go tour around many places and I want you to be able to withstand the travels. I’ll take you to the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe as I promised. I’m also taking you to visit your sister Petra in Michoacán, since I know you have not seen her for many years, and I can just imagine how bad you want to visit her.”
    Grandma cried in silence as if she sensed something. Her motherly heart told her something was wrong. Although our mothers are usually strong and they always made us feel safe, inside, their feelings rule over them. Perhaps she had been very sensitive due to the relapse that she had lately. In turn, Luis felt as if his heart would pop out of place because he felt the pain and tears in the words of his “Sweet Granny” and the pain of not being able to embrace her tight. It pierced him to the bones. A kiss may have been the best medicine for the two—kiss, which is a far better medicine than any other. It has the perfect effect to heal the pain. Hearing and knowing that they’re far is an unimaginable misery that one can only comprehend when he experiences it in the flesh. Only the love of a mother has the capacity to heal it. Meanwhile, Grandma Andrea had her little heart crushed by sorrow and many years of loneliness. Even though her grandchildren would constantly call her, and Pablo would sometimes visit, it was not the same as having them by her side every day and having them there to protect one another. A mother always knows that her children are safe under their wings but now, without knowing when it happened, it was her who needed to be under the protection of her children.
    It was an unusual conversation. They chatted for a little over two hours and promised to go on with the fight because the moment of seeing each other would be much sooner than first expected. Luis explained that perhaps he would come and visit her in less than eight months. She promised to do a better job of taking care of herself and would take her medicines