In This Dimension

Chapter 1

Samara waited by the fire escape balcony at her apartment complex, glancing at the clock: 4:50 p.m., right on schedule. Miguel, as usual, was never punctual. She never asked what he was out doing or why he was late—it wasn't her place unless he chose to share. They had seen each other earlier at school, but a glance or a wave in his direction was out of the question. Here in Brooklyn, though, it was like the avoidance hadn't happened. It was a strange dynamic for two people who had known each other for so long, but somehow, it worked.

Fifteen minutes passed, and Samara finally heard rummaging below, followed by hurried footsteps ascending the staircase. She sat down with her legs crossed, shaking her head slightly.

"You're late," she called out, loud enough for him to hear below.

"You keeping track of me?" Miguel shot back.

"Will you just hurry up?" She leaned forward and caught a glimpse of him, and could already hear the sigh he would inevitably give in response, knowing he'd never bother retaliating.

When he finally reached the balcony, Samara waved an envelope over her head.

"Did you bring it?"

Miguel settled in beside her, mimicking her pose by sitting cross-legged. He reached into his back pocket and produced a crumpled envelope. Samara's shoulders slumped as she eyed its condition, giving him an exasperated look—classic Miguel.

"Can we just get this over with?" he muttered.

"Fine." Samara snatched the envelope from his hand and handed him hers in return.

As always, everything in Samara's possession was pristine—clean, undamaged, and without a single wrinkle or smudge on the white paper. Miguel couldn't help but smirk at her tendency to be a perfectionist. He rubbed his thumb over the stamp in the corner of the envelope, where the print at the top read:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Office of Admissions.

A sudden wave of nerves crashed over him, the weight of the moment pressing down. The daunting realization that everything could change with just a few simple words inside that letter was hard to shake. He tried to push the feeling away, putting on a brave face, but when he looked up at Samara, he saw the same mix of emotions mirrored in her eyes. She was rubbing the crumpled envelope in her hands, her gaze fixed on the same print.

But this isn't where their story begins.

Miguel's family had always lived in Nueva York, more specifically, Brooklyn. His parents had settled into an apartment that housed them, Miguel, his little brother Gabriel, and themselves comfortably. When Miguel was five, new neighbors moved into the complex just a few doors down. That's when Samara's family settled in. She had an older brother named Matias and a younger one named Josue. Their mothers met one day while grocery shopping, often taking the same bus home, and soon became inseparable friends. Over the years, Samara's mom, Cecilia, would invite Miguel's family to rooftop parties, which they always attended.

Miguel and Samara got along well, mostly because they were the same age—Miguel was only three months older. The age gap between Samara and her older brother Matias was significant, and Josue was just a year younger than her. Gabriel and Josue, both the same age, quickly became best friends.

Summer days with the O'Haras and the Reyes family were filled with simple joys—running down the block to the closest convenience store, spending pocket money on sugary sweets, especially fruit-flavored ice cream. Miguel's mother, Conchata, would make the most delicious aguas frescas and horchata, while Cecilia's tamales were a family favorite. Their families treated each other as equals, sharing everything and doing everything together. Miguel and Samara would often climb the fire escape, hanging upside down from the metal bars to see who could last the longest. Samara usually won. And just like that, their friendship became unbreakable.