Sundays with her.

Once we crossed the international bridge and drove across the Rio Grande River, I felt anticipation and excitement. I knew that this Sunday was going to be well-spent with her.

My cousin, my sister in christ, and best friend, Jaqueline.

Once we get to abuelita’s house, she would run to the door to greet me with open arms and warm laughter that melted my heart even more, marking the beginning of a day full of play.

The first thing we do was play hide and seek with blindfolds on. Last Sunday, she wore the blindfold while looking for me, so it was my turn to look for her. Jaque was a hide and seek maser and utilized every nook and cranny to her advantage. When i found her, she’d smile and give me a warm hug, saying, “You found me!”

It was the part i liked the most.

Next, we would go outside and catch lizards and trap them in bottles. We would go outside and trap them inside plastic coke bottles. But before that, we would poke holes in them so that the lizards could breathe. After trapping them into the bottles, we would name them. We also determined their destinies; to grow up big, become dinosaurs and come back to us so that we could ride them into battle for world domination together.

I still wait for the day that they come back to me or her, all grown up and ready.

We let them go from the bottles so that they can go fulfill their destiny.

After a second round of hide and seek, we would retreat to our abuelito’s room and take a break playing with our barbies, We built them forts made out of blankets and pillows, and we would use whatever items in the room as decorations. The tv control was a sofa, the extra pillow was their bed, pill bottles were chairs. We even drew them things, such as Televisions and tables. And to add a last touch, Jaque took an empty butter container and filled it with water.

“A pool!”

We then threw our barbies a pool party, not caring about the mess we did.

The rest of the break was filled with laughter from silly dolls’ play, and Jaque and I pretended that the fort was going to be our future house.

So that we could always be together and not allow a river to separate us.

Next, we would head outside and steal lemon lime tree leaves from the neighbors. This time, we managed to yank 20 from the tree. Jaque was in charge of getting a cup with water as i crushed the leaves. Once she came back, we mixed the leaves and water and voila - we made lemon lime perfume. I would test it out on Jaque to see if she liked it, later giving me a smile. I smiled back, knowing that today’s product was a success.

“Let’s make some money.”

We then stole more leaves from the neighbor and made more perfume to sell to our moms and grandma.

We would approach them and they would let out little laughs and giggles.

Jaque was shy, so I did the speaking for her.

“Perfume? Only 10 pesos!”

They would all smile and laugh, later reaching for their purses to fish out money for us. We made 30 pesos altogether, and Jaque knew just what we were going to do with the money.

We switched shoes and crossed the street to the tiendita together to buy chips, cookies and cokes, with our hard-earned money, petting the neighbor's dog along the way.

The rest of the day was filled with her warm laughter, until the sun was gone and it was dark.

Mom yelled out for me, saying “Ya nos vamos.”

Time to go.

Both of our hearts break, and we know that we’ll miss each other very dearly.

I pack my barbies and leftover perfume, later putting them in the car.

She had sadness in her eyes, sadness from seeing me go.

Now it was my turn to smile warmly for her. I wrap her in a tight, tight hug.

“Te quiero mucho.”

I loved her very much.

She cried into my shoulder and let me go, letting me get to my car. Once i was on the backseat and put my seatbelt on, i waved goodbye at her my both hands. She ran down the street as the car drove out of the peaceful, small neighborhood, later stopping as we turned.

As we drove over the river, I feel as if half of me was lost, and stayed with her.

The day was over, but well-spent. Now, it was time to wait and endure the whole week, so that i could spend another day with her.

My cousin, sister in christ, and my best friend,