Happy New Year Sofia.

Sofia searched for the door keys in the right pocket of her pants, her fingers stumbled upon a handful of lentils she had kept there hours before, those grains massaged her hand, she imagined for a moment that they were swimming, her fingers, in a small sea lodged in her pocket. She smiled a little exhausted, for the keys were not there, she searched in her other pocket and found them. She entered the room awkwardly, she was a little drunk and sweaty, she had been walking around her street, the tradition says that at the end of the year this route should be done carrying a suitcase, to augur travels and trips in the year that begins. But Sofia had no suitcases, so she walked aimlessly and without expectation.

It was the first new year she had received alone, she had migrated a few months ago to a strange country and her family had stayed on the other side of the border. Sofia had no money or food, no acquaintances nearby, she felt cold and a terrible fear gnawed at her fingertips. She would not eat grapes that year, but she would certainly enjoy the privilege the poor have of making their twelve wishes. He poured himself a cup of steaming coffee, it was freshly brewed, he knew he would not sleep that night and as he sipped his coffee he began to say his wishes aloud.

The first three were universal, what is usually said almost automatonically these holidays: Peace, love and prosperity for everyone. He continued with wishes for his loved ones, for whom he dedicated about seven wishes. He realized that he only had two wishes left, these two belonged to him. She thought a little and nothing came to her, she felt helpless, she saw herself sitting in that depressing little room and knew that no matter how much strength she put into her wishes, they would probably not come true.

She stood up and lit the stove, the fire embraced a small pot that held the only food she had left. He opened the lid and looked sadly, inside the pot was a stewed lentils, in his country it was customary to eat lentils at the end of the year to ensure prosperity and food abundance, also kept a handful of raw lentils in his pocket for economic prosperity. That would be the only tradition he would celebrate that year.

He slowly stirred the lentils, as if to stir his meager hopes. In the distance she could hear laughter, music and fireworks, Sofia felt disgusted, she felt that there was nothing to celebrate, when the sun rose the next day life would remain the same, the corrupt and bad people would remain so and the unlucky ones would not get lucky when they turned the corner, so this massive celebration was nothing more than cosmetics for a sad life.

Without realizing it, she was humming the music of her neighbors, when she heard a knock on her door. She was a little alarmed, she didn't know anyone in the neighborhood and thought it might be some miscreant, she had no intention of opening the door, but she heard from the other side of the door a voice calling her name. She realized that the person knocking probably knew her and opened the door almost in desperation.

It was Joaquin, an old classmate of hers. He had heard rumors from the neighbors that there was a new resident named Sofia, from the way she was described he had no doubt that it was her and decided to go to see her that night. They ate lentils and caught up on the latest gossip, went to bed and cuddled lovingly, like two lovers crazed with passion.

Sofia woke up in Joaquin's arms on the first day of January, she felt his skin and his soft breathing, still their bodies emanated the warmth of a fireplace. Sofia smiled tenderly, her wish had come true, she did not want to feel so lonely and Joaquin came to her that night, and each had taken refuge in the embrace of the other.

She thought for a moment that sometimes parties exist to bring together lost solitudes, and indeed that night her solitude and Joaquin's had become company. She smiled again and said to herself: Happy New Year Sofia.