Issue 1

STORY CONTINUED
This wasn’t our first time doing this. We had just spent 3 months
imprisoned in the Cayman Islands, after yet another failed
attempt to escape led us farther away from our destination than
we could’ve ever imagined. We had spent that time with our
hopes higher than ever and imagining only the best outcomes. We
were seeking asylum, and at that point, it didn’t matter who
provided us with it. If we ever stepped on Cuban territory again,
we would go straight to prison, and that is something that made
me go insane. As stated by Cuban law, anyone who escaped—or
who talked about it, assisted someone else, or collected any
rafting materials—was subject to ten years in prison. Anything
could happen, and I was ready to endure whatever outcome.
On our third day at sea, our motor completely broke down.
Water had entered it, and we hadn’t brought any tools that could
possibly fix the issue. Two days later, my father saw a cruise ship
in the distance; this gave us hope, and we started to believe that
we would see land sooner than later. As more time passed, the
waters turned clear and our emotions turned bright. We were
close, and we felt safer than we had since we had embarked on
our journey.
We reached the island town of Key Biscayne, Florida on July
4th, 1999. I can still close my eyes and vividly see everything we
went through. The way chills travel up my spine when I relive
the moments are indescribable, yet there is absolutely nothing I
would’ve done differently. I believe that everything happens for
a reason, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to
accomplish what many can’t, and to represent the courage that
Is buried deep inside the souls of those living back home. I did it
for them; I needed to honor those who didn’t succeed, those
who are struggling now, and those who will attempt the voyage
later on.
45