"Héctor, will you please turn around?"

"Not yet, Superhero." Héctor waves at Imelda and Coco for the fifth time as him and Ernesto walk to the train station. Ernesto watches as Imelda smiles at Héctor, glares at him, and waves back. Coco presses her face to the window and grins, raising her hand as Imelda picks her up.

Ernesto sighs and crosses his arms. "We have to go now, Héctor. You already said goodbye to them." He looks in the distance, where he can just barely see the train coming to a stop, making a screeching noise that hits his ears hard. He can see that some passengers have started to climb on, and he grabs the neck of Héctor's guitar case to pull him along. "We'll be late," he says, marching ahead as he lets go of Héctor.

Héctor sighs and turns forward, walking beside Ernesto as he adjusts his guitar case so it sits on his back the right way. "I can't believe this is happening," he mutters, a small smile spreading across his face. He starts to look back again, but Ernesto forces his head in the other direction.

"I can." Ernesto meets Héctor's eyes and puts an arm around him. "We desrve the chance to share our music, hermanito. If we would've waited any longer, we would've lost the opportunity completely." He glances at the swelled up part of Héctor's cheek and winces. "Let's hope that disappears before our first performance."

Héctor laughs and nods, but his smile fades quickly.

Ernesto grins and punches Héctor's shoulder lightly. "What's the matter? You should be grinning from ear to ear right now. This is supposed to be our chance."

"I'll miss them," Héctor says softly, more to himself than Ernesto as rubs the back of his neck.

Ernesto rolls his eyes. "Come on, mi amigo. I'm trying not to get irritated, but you're making it hard."

"Imelda didn't want me to go." Héctor has stopped walking and is now behind Ernesto, staring at the hacienda in the faded view.

Ernesto turns to face him. "I'm sure she'll get over it." He grabs Héctor by the shoulders and tries to lead him away. "Now come on. We'll be walking to our first stop if we miss the train."

But Héctor doesn't move. He just sighs and fidgets with his hands, an unsure and guilty expression on his face.

Ernesto lets go of him and stares, sighing and rolling his eyes again. "What are you so worried about? They'll be okay. Imelda and Coco will do just fine without you."

Héctor doesn't look at him. His eyes are vacant. "Coco."

"What about her?"

"She and Imelda... I wanted them to come with us."

Ernesto barks a laugh. "You're crazy. You know that wouldn't go well. And I'll let you write letters to them at every stop, ¿comprende?"

"I--"

Ernesto huffs and places an arm around Héctor. The train's whistle sounds ahead of them, reminding Ernesto that they're pressed for time.

He forces Héctor to look forward again and gestures to the train. "Do you want to miss the chance completely. Let's go. It's about to leave."

"But--"

"Héctor." Ernesto gives him a look.

Héctor sighs and allows Ernesto to usher him away. The two of them make it just before the conductor closes the doors and lurches the ride forward.

Ernesto settles in his seat and tosses Héctor a half smile. "Think of it this way. You'll make a lot of money while we're gone, and the more money you make, the more you can send home."

Héctor nods slowly as he sits down next to Ernesto. "I guess you're right. Gracias, Superhero."

With those words, the train pulls out of the station, and the town of Santa Cecilia fades in the dust the train leaves behind.