Sonora came into my life in high school. Though we had brief interactions freshman year, we didn’t really get to know each other until sophomore year. All my friends had already built friendships with Sonora in middle school, so her name was something that grew familiar in my ears. Her name was the first sign to me that she was meant to be in my life. I was born in Guadalajara, but I was partially raised in Hermosillo, Sonora; My mother’s birthplace.

Around this time, Sonora had just gotten back from touring the U.S. with her father and were on break before starting the European leg of the tour. We would all get out of class head to the subway and Starbucks on 44th Street and Indian School Road, where Sonora would come meet up with us after school. I remember sitting at a table with Vincent and Shaq (her boyfriend at the time) when she came in. Sonora came in wearing a cool leather vest jacket, jeans and her hair all done and recently dyed. Total rockstar, mini Calico. She immediately caught my attention, I was sort of mesmerized. I proceeded to do what I did best and I tried to make her laugh. We hit it off right away.

It was a couple weeks of the same subway interactions after school, and it was obvious something was blossoming. Everyone saw it and naturally, our friends pushed us closer. I was shy when it came to girls, so I would restrain myself and deny the accusations. All my friends were not blind to the fact; they would always try to make plans that involved getting us together. We began talking non stop, on all platforms. Myspace, text, phone calls, etc.

I had a gut feeling she liked me, but I couldn’t be sure. I recall it being Friday, and we were all at Subway once again. We decided we would all try to go catch a movie, but being 14-15, we would need to catch a ride. That was the first time I met Sheryl. She picked us up in her suburban, and hauled 7 teens to the mall to watch a movie. I remember as we were getting dropped off, Sonora introduced all of us one by one to her mom. When she mentioned that I was Diego, her mom smiled ear to ear, looked at Sonora, and whispered abruptly loud into her ear, “is this DIEGO”?!” Sonora turned levels of pink and red and exhaled “MOM!” The rest is history.