Solito

Before anyone embarks on a major journey, they carry hidden hopes and fears. In this story, a little boy shoulders those burdens while longing to see his parents again. He’s just nine years old, yet he sets out on a harrowing trip across multiple borders.

His determination stems from a promise: that in a matter of days, he’ll finally reunite with his mother and father. But the path ahead is unclear and full of dangers—small fishing boats, coyote guides, unimaginable distances through deserts. Despite the risk, he clings to a simple truth: there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to see them again.

This introduction sets the stage for a deeply personal memoir of migration. Yet it’s far more than a tale of danger. It offers a poignant reminder of how quickly a child can grow in the face of upheaval.

As you follow along, you’ll see not only the physical journey of crossing dusty roads and fences but the emotional terrain of love, fear, and survival. Let this serve as an open door into one child’s unbreakable spirit and the remarkable acts of empathy he finds along the way.

Leaving one’s homeland seems sudden to neighbors, but for this boy, goodbyes were building up for years. His mother’s departure happened when he was just five; her silhouette waved in a faint light before she vanished into the unknown. Memories of her linger in every corner of his grandmother’s home.

Though he remembers little about his father, he clings to family stories. One such tale is that his father slipped away silently, not even telling relatives, which left everyone stunned. The child grows up believing that one day, he’ll follow in those footsteps—except this time, there’s a plan to be reunited at the other end.

Grandparents become his caretakers. They teach him how to read, how to mind his manners, and how to keep a brave face. As the date of his trip approaches, they guide him through small daily lessons, from tying half-knots on his shoelaces to reciting lines about a fake identity he’ll have to assume.