🎭 Rest In Peace. Attentively, your other-self.

 "Give your own eulogy." 

Well, first of all. Thank you all for being here. It is good to see some familiar faces again. With your black facemasks on, though. I am Arturo, Cesar's best friend, alter ego, and rival for life. He desired me to talk to you today. Yes! This situation reminds us of how delicate a human being could be. I believe this is not how many of us craved to finish this complicated year, especially his relatives and friends. 

    How should I begin? The last time we talked about this topic, he told me to be real, direct, and stubborn a year ago if something happened to him. That cold afternoon, we spoke of climbing and hiking while walking on a rocky pathway. Then, we sat on a rock in front of a mountain range close to Zacatecas City. The yellow-black-and-gray speaker in his backpack was reproducing Eminem—I never understood why he liked him so much. 

    In the middle of our weekly trip, we could not see the city, or any person around us—just his serious reflection in the puddle facing the rock. "Are you mad or what? You haven't said anything in two hours," I asked him. Cesar responded: "'When I'm Gone,' that's the song you'll play at my funeral. Which other...? 'Les Larmes de leurs Peres' and 'Manifiesto by Nach.' I grew up with those, and I will fall with those as well. Please do it." "Do you feel that way?" I replied and shrugged. "Nope, nothing wrong is happening, I only wanted to let you know, now, stop talking and pay close attention to the sky." he ended up the conversation.

    Why did I tell you the story? Because we all agree, Cesar was a direct guy. If he wanted to tell you something, he would not doubt saying it. He appreciated the lost silence of the wind, the shapes of the many rocks beneath his bare feet, the aroma if his Pike Place Roast coffee, the untold history of the place, and our spiritual company. 

    We all must be proud he passed away doing what he loved, competing. It is a shame he is gone. However, his twenty years of life experience were "genuine and fun," In his own words.

    Everyone, I am sure of something, and I want you to close your eyes and smile. Cesar always wanted us to keep studying, preparing, and fighting for the Latin people. "Wey, I love my mother language. Without it, I would not be this happy." He confessed to me.

    Besides, it is good to see how some of his students came to see him one last time. You, guys, deserve applause, too. You all gave him several reasons to smile, to improve, and to be patient. Although Cesar would be furious at you if you left an activity unconcluded, his dark circles originated when preparing your future classes.

    I will not add more information. If you are here right now, "Cesarin" let you know everything he could. I want to give you all special thanks for hearing me and acknowledge that the stars have received another astronaut out there.

    We will miss you, buddy. 

    Attentively, your other-self.  

Onward...