So, there I was, nursing a cold coffee in a dead-end cafe, waiting for Carlos to embark on the next chapter of his life. The guy was on a roll, chasing dreams pilgrim.

His backpack, a motley collection of essentials and oddities, was slung over his chair. Dangling from it was a bright yellow Pikachu keychain, a stark contrast to the overall seriousness of the situation.

It was a small detail, but it summed up Carlos perfectly. I could almost see him now, that stupid Pikachu keychain bobbing up and down as he navigated the airport, a beacon of optimism in a world of tired travelers.

The thought of him soaring through the sky, probably with a stupid grin on his face, filled me with a strange mix of envy and admiration.

I took another sip of coffee, letting the bitterness wash over me. It was a small taste of reality in a world full of Carlos’s dreams.