"Señor Rivera?"
Héctor stops walking and jumps, suprised to hear his name called. A security guard stands behind him, his expression concerned. Héctor holds one of his presents for Ernesto-- four pieces of candy-- in one hand. The guard's eyes drift to the present and he shakes his head.
"You can't give that to de la Cruz today," he says, avoiding Héctor's gaze.
The gift in his hand suddenly feels heavier. Héctor tries to keep his voice from showing concern. "Why not?" he asks.
The security guard looks into Héctor's eyes in a way that makes Héctor startle.
"Your best friend isn't here," the guard says.
Héctor tilts his head and frowns. "Of course he's here," he argues. "You guys arrested him. Where else would he but here?" He tightens his grip on Ernesto's gift as he speaks.
The guard shakes his head again. "Ernesto's been..." He trails off before finishing. "Ernesto's been forgotten."
The air has been feeling humid all morning, but it seems to grow eerily cold. Héctor barely hides his suprise. "What?" he asks, fighting to keep his voice from rising in fear. He starts trembling, Ernesto's gift crumpling in his tight hold.
The security guard steps in front of him. "You don't believe me, see for yourself."
Héctor follows him, watching as they head to Ernesto's jail cell. It's completely empty, except for something that Héctor notices on the ground. He reaches his hand through the bars to pick it up.
It's Ernesto's white suit, the one that he was wearing when he performed at his last Sunrise Spectacular before they banned him from doing anymore concerts. It's mostly unharmed, except for a few stains on the jacket. The color looks especially prounnounced in the bright lights of the building.
Realization hits Héctor so hard he staggers back, clenching the suit tighter in his hands.
He turns around. "When did you notice he was... gone?" He nearly chokes the last word, holding back sobs that threaten to shake his entire body.
"A few days ago." The guard is avoiding Héctor's stare again.
Héctor tenses, putting the pieces together. "A few days?"
He doesn't realize his hands pulling on Ernesto's jacket until it rips down the middle with a sickening noise.
Why did this happen?
How could it happen? How can people go from remembering Ernesto to erasing him from their minds just like that?
This can't be true.
Yet there it is, right in front of Héctor's eyes. This time he can't control himself. He drops the torn jacket and runs out, not even caring that people are staring at him as he sprints away, trying to hold back tears.
