Work at the construction site became part of my daily routine.
The days were long, and the tasks were still hard.
My body was always sore, and my hands were rough from work. But I started to notice that when things slowed down, there was a lot to learn if I paid attention.
When I wasn't busy, I'd stand back and watch the skilled workers do their jobs.
The bricklayers were precise, carefully placing each brick and using a level to make sure the walls were straight.
The carpenters were focused, measuring wood with tape and cutting it perfectly for frames.
The electricians worked quickly, threading wires through pipes and connecting circuits like it was second nature.
I didn't have their skills, but just by watching, I began to understand a little about what they were doing.
The people at the construction site were good to me.
They didn't treat me like I was less important because I didn't have skills.
They showed me respect and sometimes even gave me advice.
One day, I was struggling to carry a heavy load of bricks, and one of the older workers, Manuel, came over to help me.
"Take smaller loads next time," he said with a smile. "You're young, but you don't have to prove you're Superman."
He wasn't the only one who made me feel included.
During lunch breaks, I usually sat alone, eating the food I brought from home, but one day, a man in his mid 40s came and sat beside me.
His name was Hector. He had a friendly face and a steady way of talking that made you want to listen.
"Luis, right?" he asked, unwrapping his sandwich.
"Yes," I said, surprised he knew my name.
"You remind me of myself when I was younger," Hector said. "Working hard, trying to figure things out. How old are you?"
"Eighteen," I replied.
He nodded. "When I was your age, I was working on farms, waking up early in the morning to pick crops. My family was poor, and I had to help out. I wanted to go to school, but it wasn't possible."
I looked at him, curious. "Did you ever get to go back to school?"
He shook his head. "No. Life got in the way. But I learned something important, no matter how hard life gets, you have to keep pushing.
There's always something to learn, and there's always a way to move forward."
Hector's words stayed with me as I went back to work that day.
He wasn't just talking about himself; he was giving me advice, whether he realized it or not.
When I got home that evening, Emilio ran to me as soon as I walked in the door.
"Luis, the school sent a letter," he said, handing me an envelope.
I opened it and sighed. It was about Emilio's school fees, they were overdue, and the school was giving us a final warning.
I looked around the house.
Mom was lying on the couch, looking tired as always.
I knew we were running low on her medicine too. And then there was the rent, which was due in less than a week.
The money I was making from the construction job wasn't enough to cover everything.
"How am I working this hard," I thought to myself, "and still can't pay for everything my family needs?"
That night, after Emilio went to bed and I had made sure Mom was comfortable, I sat in the kitchen, staring at the table.
I was very worried.I couldn't keep going like this. Something had to change.