dreams of the night

In the picturesque old neighborhood of the city, the facades of the shops are adorned with traditional architectural details and the historic buildings intertwine charm, preserving the stories of past generations. Iron balconies adorned with colorful potted flowers overlook the cobblestone street, giving the old neighborhood in the concrete city a nostalgic touch of urban beauty. As you stroll down the narrow street, elegant modernist shop windows from a variety of boutique stores lovingly display their selection of items, from designer clothing to handmade jewelry and unique decorative objects. The stone street leads to a charming cobblestone square brimming with life and charm. Traditional-style arcades surround the square, offering shade and protection from the sun to passersby strolling under their elegant stone arches. The terraces of cafes and restaurants extend along the arcades, inviting visitors to sit and enjoy a coffee or a drink outdoors, relaxed. The polished marble tables are decorated with colorful umbrellas and the murmur of lively conversations and cheerful laughter fills the air, mingling with the tempting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and culinary delights served in nearby establishments. Locals and tourists gather in the square to enjoy the lively atmosphere and observe the hustle and bustle of daily life unfolding around them. The sun shines on the colorful facades of surrounding buildings, creating a play of light and shadow that enhances the beauty of the place, while soft music floats in the air, adding a touch of sophistication to the urban scene. As night falls and the square empties, a deep and serene silence envelops the place, as if the entire city were suspended in an ethereal stillness. Ancient lanterns cast shadows and elongated lights, bringing to life dreams of stone and wood structures on cobblestones and mirrored water poured on the ground moments before to refresh the atmosphere. Footsteps are heard. In the square, Juan is first to appear, a young man from a wealthy family with a privileged education. After studying at top schools and universities, he has proven to be a natural entrepreneur. He comes running so that Alejandro doesn't catch up with him; Alejandro follows after having played a prank on him by pushing him in the street. Alejandro has his characteristic tousled bangs. Ambitious with great goals for his professional career, he plans to follow in his father's footsteps in business world who is a renowned business leader. Javier interrupts his friends shouting at them to lower their voices so as not to wake anyone up; he comes from an influential and powerful family with exceptional skills in communication and negotiation. His family expects him to follow in their footsteps in politics world and reach important positions in government.

Just steps behind them come Leon and Sofia, embraced at waist level. They are boyfriend-girlfriend who recently got engaged. Leon is a young man from an established family who grew up surrounded by comforts and educational opportunities. He stands out for his exceptional skills in fields such as graphic design and fashion, showing unique style and originality. His family trusts that he will succeed in art or business world thanks to his determination and passion for what he does.

On one hand, Sofia is a young woman from a wealthy family with a bright future ahead of her determined to meet high expectations placed upon her.

They have all been celebrating someone's birthday by having some drinks but now everything is closed as night progresses.

Juan: Look here! He's sleeping at this ATM just like I told you! How about we play a prank on him?

Alejandro: Yes, that would be fun! Let's see what we can do to surprise him.

The young people approach stealthily towards an ATM machine in the square. Through its glass door one can see inside covered by cardboard boxes for protection against cold night weather; there is a man sleeping.

Javier: Let's open up this ATM door and scare him! He'll surely get quite a fright.

Carefully one of them opens up ATM machine door.

Alejandro: Excuse me sir! Why are you sleeping here at this ATM?

But man ignores them continuing his sleep sheltered under cardboard boxes.

Then one of the young people decides to go further into the joke and sets the cardboard on fire with a lighter.



The cartons begin to burn quickly. The crackling fire illuminated the sidewalk where the ATM was located in an orange glow and thick smoke filled its interior.

With the uproar of the young people, some sleepless neighbors come out into the street to see, alarmed, what is happening in the square. From a distance they observe what is happening at the ATM and fear the worst, that the fire would spread to the buildings in the neighborhood. Although some are happy that with this the discordant note of the man begging every morning in the square disappears.

But they see that the ATM door opens and the man comes out coughing.

The dense smoke and suffocating heat woke him up from his deep sleep, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself inside the ATM engulfed in flames and filled with suffocating smoke. The door was jammed by the heat and pressure of the fire but finally, with his heart pounding and his mind clouded by panic, making a desperate effort, he managed to push it enough to break the glass of the door and go out into the square between coughs and gasps

The young people laugh and insult him but they start running when they see the local police car entering the square, with its lights flashing. The cashier's man also disappears with them.

Without his usual place to take refuge from the night, wrapped up to sleep, Misero decided to go down to the river and spend the night under the arches of the railway bridge, where other people abandoned by luck like him sleep. Upon reaching the river, he saw that a group of poor people had made a bonfire and were warming themselves around the smoky fire. He approached them and asked if he could come closer to warm up. They made room for him and invited him to sit with them by the fire lit under the bridge arch.

The crackling of the fire and the gentle murmur of the nearby river intertwined in a quiet sonata.

In the circle, amidst the darkness of the night, seated around the improvised bonfire to endure the cold night that surrounded them, the dancing flames illuminated the tired faces of two homeless individuals, forsaken, without family or home, who had decided to unite their destinies forever. Salvador, a humble man fallen on hard times, and Luzdivina, a disheveled woman with gray hair and barely any teeth in her mouth. Both homeless, they had met on the street and had decided to join in marriage but had been searching in vain for a priest who could bless their union. When Misero offered to marry them, the fire of the bonfire, around which swirled a small audience of poor people spending that night under the bridge, seemed to hang suspended in mid-air. The two poor individuals looked at each other and accepted without hesitation. Misero solemnly asked Salvador if he accepted Luzdivina as his lawful wife: Salvador took Luzdivina's hand and with a firm voice full of emotion, responded affirmatively, promising to love and respect her every day of his life, in good times and bad. Then he turned to Luzdivina and asked if she accepted Salvador as her husband. Luzdivina returned Salvador's gaze with eyes shining with emotion and gratitude and responded with a resounding yes, to be his faithful companion and support him for as long as they were together. When Misero declared them husband and wife, the lovers kissed happily for their union; then as if they heard notes from an organ of an iron and concrete cathedral, the nighttime wind began whispering softly among the cement arches of the bridge, and the night blessed their union with its cool and comforting breath of starry night.

And all those present began applauding. One of the beggars next to the bonfire began juggling and performing acrobatics to entertain those present. At first, everyone was amazed by his skills but soon laughter and joy filled the atmosphere. When the juggler finished his show, a puppet show began: he didn't have a suitcase but did have an imaginary suitcase handle where he hung it from; he started moving an invisible suitcase in the air without it wanting to move or go anywhere.

After finishing with puppets some clowns stood up who performed their acts on stage; they started making people laugh with their jokes and comic tricks. They even invited newlyweds to participate in some fun games.

As the party progressed, clowns surprised everyone by bringing out a huge cake made from yogurts and fruits collected from a supermarket dumpster decorated with artificial sparklers found in some trash bin… The cake was so extravagant and colorful that it seemed taken from a fairy tale.

The newlyweds looked at each other excitedly and cut into cake together inviting everyone present.

At that moment Misero asked some of those present to accompany him "Come with me; ¡I have something to show you!". Intrigued some beggars followed him as he headed towards an old nearby abandoned foundry well. Upon reaching well Misero looked at his companions with mysterious smile said: "I've heard stories about an extraordinary miracle that happened here years ago; ¿they say that a holy man turned dirty water into wine during popular feast would you like check it out together?". Those present looked at each other in astonishment curiosity unable believe what they were hearing one incredulously asked: "Do you really think we can witness such miracle?" Misero nodded determinedly replied: "You never know what surprises life holds let's try!" With caution they approached well observed murky stagnant water inside Misero closed eyes moment concentrating thoughts then uttered few words quietly suddenly before astonished eyes all water began shine change color until became bright reddish liquid those present couldn't believe what saw exclaimed excitedly: "It's wine! Miracle happened!" They returned plastic jugs collected place fill them wine everyone present toasted around bonfire wine converted dirty water foundry well while toasted started singing celebrating life love possibility impossible when sang louder sky clouded unleashed strong storm forced abandon bonfire run shelter under bridge after while ceased singing stopped raining sky cleared beautiful night thus midst tranquil serene night consecrated destiny Salvador Luzdivina began journey together poverty


All this happened while the lights and shadows projected the sad dreams of the cement and glass of the city into the night sky. The night when some young people burned a homeless man inside a bank ATM.



A night poor decided canonize Saint Misero but among all poor world couldn't raise enough money start Vatican paperwork canonization Seeing couldn't afford expensive process canonization poor abandoned idea.

Saint Misero has no temple His roof cold night altar table where eat together every day There's no prayer pray Saint Misero.

To ask favors Saint Misero simply ask favor perform good deed neighbor expecting nothing return If requested favor doesn't happen within seven days remember life goes looking back

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