Her husband, Don Mateo, had died decades ago, and her only son, Diego, was all she had in the world. He had been a bright, hardworking child, the pride of the entire town. When he left for Mexico City on a university scholarship, everyone said the young man would go far. He went so far that he got lost.

For ten long years, Doña Elena received only the occasional call at Christmas, and the odd deposit that she rarely touched. The rest she knew from the town gossip:

“They say Diego is a businessman now, did you know?”

“He lives in a huge house, one of those you see in magazines.”

“He drives brand-new cars, imagine!”