Lilliam Rivera - We Light Up the Sky

To all the young people saving this world, in spite of it all

Also by Lilliam Rivera

Never Look Back

CONTENTS

Five days before the Visitor lands, Pedro has an unusual encounter at the bus stop where he always waits for the 7 a.m. bus to take him to Fairfax High. Theres a dense morning fog that sweeps across the streets adding to Pedros drowsiness. Last night he went to La Plaza to watch Kandi perform. It was the late Roco Drcals birthday, and Kandi was deep in his emotions. The flawless performer lip-synched to Amor Eterno with tears streaming down his immaculately painted face. Pedro sat at his usual corner table in awe of the emotional display, so much so that he too succumbed to a tear or two.

Pedros not technically allowed in the twenty-one-and-over club, but La Plaza has been his sometime home for so long that the owner overlooks his age. La Plaza is the only place Pedro feels safe, and because of that, Pedro frequently stays out way too late. But hes never tardy to school no matter how many times the club calls to him. He would never allow his misguided antics to get in the way of showing out academically and aesthetically.

Dressed in a combination of his two favorite stunnerspop star Kali Uchis and the principe de chocolate Andrs from the only television show that counts, Los Espookys Pedro looks primed to battle any drama in sequin joggers and blue high-tops. Or, at the very least, to almost pass this mornings history test. What he didnt expect was a beastly run-in at the bus stop.

Pedro barely pays attention to what he thinks is a stray dog until the wild animal slowly comes into focus. The coyotes fur is knotted in between bald spots. Its snout is long, and one of its pointy ears has a stripe of white. The animal looks hungry.

Hjole, Pedro whispers.

The coyote stares at him, and Pedro is still. This is a dog, an ancient dog, who will sense Pedros fear if he shows it, so he doesnt. By some miracle he decided not to blast Kali Uchis in his eardrums, something he normally does when he walks by himself. At least he can hear if the coyote starts running after him to tear his heart out or whatever it is coyotes do to measly humans.

You dont want this, he says.

The animal seems to take in Pedros glittery pants and the black T-shirt that lists Los Espookys cast names: Renaldo y Andrs y Ursula y Tati y Tico. It draws nearer. Pedro doesnt notice the flower protruding from the side of the coyotes rib cage. It is as if the animal has brushed up against a blooming plant sometime during its travel, embedding the head within its dirty coat.

Pedro knows he should run, but where? The garage behind him is closed, and the apartment complex across the street is too far away to make a difference. The beast would be on top of him even before he made it there. Hes sure of it.

Leave me be, ancient perra, Pedro says quietly as the coyote takes a couple of steps forward. Fear rises, starting from his toes, inching up to Pedros stomach. The coyote doesnt stop. It gradually comes closer.

A car suddenly takes a sharp turn onto the street. The coyote calmly turns away from Pedro and struts into the dense fog. Pedro glares in disbelief until the dog disappears.

Why is a coyote trying to kill me this morning? reads the caption Pedro writes on the gram with a picture of the foggy street. Pedro has ten thousand followers, but he thinks its really low considering the quality content he posts. Pedros not a TikToker although he should make the transition. He just refuses to do so.

Before he boards the bus, a hundred followers hit the heart button on his post.

While most people who arent originally from Los Angeles may think the city is nothing but a daily dose of sunshine and organic food, those like Pedro understand the coyote is a reminder of how no one truly belongs here. Not the recent transplants. Not even Pedro, who was born in the heart of the City of Angels.

The beastly encounter was a first for Pedro. Today is going to be something, isnt it? he thinks. He rechecks his horoscopes (Astro Poets, CHANI, Co-Star) to confirm if there are any ominous signs he should be aware of. His Leo horoscope in Astro Poets is the one he obsesses over the most: Expect the unexpected. Be open to new encounters. Denim, perhaps? Light a hot-pink candle.

As he boards the bus, Pedro doesnt notice the tiny petals sprinkled on the street, left behind by the coyote.

The horoscopes have spoken. Whoever is supposed to show up this weekhot girl, boy, or personbetter be ready to shower this Leo with love, not mayhem. And take note: I am open to Diptyque candles and designer jeans , he writes .

The image Pedro posts is one of his face tilted against the bus window to show off his strong jawline and lips that have a hint of pink to them. He flashes a sexy smile.

In a stately house located in historic West Adams, Luna eats her bowl of oatmeal, leaning over the kitchen island. She still feels unsettled from last nights nightmare. In her recurring dream, shes in the hospital trying desperately to see her cousin before its too late. With each step she takes, LAPD stops her, takes her temperature, and asks her inane questions. As she tries to break through their barriers, her desperation escalates. She yells at the sunglass-wearing man in uniform, and he pushes her to the ground over and over until a door in a long, desolate hallway unlocks. Luna runs toward the room, away from the menacing cops, but when she finally reaches the eerie hospital bed, she finds a body hidden under a sheet. With trembling hands, Luna gradually pulls off the bedsheet, only to wake up before confirming who lies there.

The heavy bags under her eyes reflect off the toaster. She made them worse by trying to conceal the tiredness with makeup.

Horrible, she says to herself. Luna takes out the picture of her cousin she keeps tucked in her schoolbag. Tasha had dyed her shoulder-length hair purplish pink. She wanted Luna to change her hair color too, to update her usual dark brown hair to something more fun. But Luna doesnt like change. Tasha teased her for being such a moody Cancer.

The aftereffects of the disturbing dream are like tiny jabs. She thought keeping herself busy would help stave off these heavy emotions. This week, it will be two years since Tasha died. Two years. How is it even possible? Her life was forever altered that day.

Youre looking cute.

Her mother enters the kitchen in her nurses scrubs and yellow clogs. Luna puts away the picture.

Thanks. Spirit week, she says. Everyone at school is meant to wear pink today. Never one to go against the grain, Luna wears a pastel pink silk top with tights and ankle boots.

Lunas mother pours coffee into her Rambler. She smiles, and Luna tries to return the gesture, but it feels disingenuous. Luna hasnt been talking to her mother this past month, at least not with any kind of depth. Not that shes angry at her. Shes just been focusing on school and burying her feelings.

Dont forget to take the garbage out tonight, her mother says.

Lunas face drops. What is she even talking about? This week is not a normal week. Doesnt she remember?