Mama Reyes smiled, a crinkle of lines around her eyes. “You’re holding a taco like it’s a life raft, mijo. And you’re watching the door, not the people.” She gestured with her own drink—a tall glass of something amber. “Come. Sit. The lonely corner is taken by the anarchist poets.”

He smiled. He still didn’t know exactly where he fit. But for the first time, he understood that fitting wasn’t the point. Belonging was. And belonging wasn’t about being the same. It was about showing up, holding your own taco, and dancing in the rain—even when the floor is empty.

He felt a light tap on his shoulder.