The night sky was a city of fireworks of bright and vibrant colors. The beach of Copacabana was a wave of white-dressed people who were delighted with the fireworks show. My friends and I were taking photos, each with a cup of champagne in their hands. Curious for what the new year would bring and nostalgic for another year of friendship. I was emigrating and that might be the last moment I could share with them.

I remembered the day we graduated from high school. We cherished those moments when we skipped classes and school acts just to play football or truco. We enjoyed those study meetings, in which we ended up playing video games or going to the park, except for studying. We thought that the group would split due to the different course of studies we would be studying at college, but we continued meeting frequently and making memories.

I remembered returning from the discos when the sun had already set, discussing and laughing. When we ate churros and drank coffee after those crazy nights. When we drank and smoked weed before going to the discos, with random people we had met at a dating app.

I remembered watching together all the Argentina World Cup matches, suffering, crying, smiling, and shouting. We went through all the emotions to watch our nation get crowned world champion. We could see the national team won a World Cup and we gathered at the national monument of our home city to celebrate till late hours.

And I could continue to mention more small stories that I shared with my friends and stored deep within my heart, but this would be really extensive. As I delighted myself watching the fireworks, one of my friends asked me what my New Year's Resolution would be.

‘That our friendship lasts forever.’ I said in a loud and clear voice as we bottomed up our champagne cups.



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


© Jero Gandini