A significant aspect of any relationship is understanding your partner’s backstory, origins, and traditions, especially if they come from a different country.

For Alejandro, Mexico was the foundation of his identity. No matter where he was or where he was deployed, he always returned to his birthplace. Nothing brought him more joy than sharing that part of himself with you. He’d light up whenever he talked about his hometown — the bustling markets filled with the scent of fresh tortillas and spices, the vibrant colors splashed across every wall, and the sounds of laughter and music filling the streets. Each story he told felt like an invitation, a window into a world that shaped him.

And now that Halloween, or *Día De Los Muertos’ as he insisted to you to address it correctly, he had even more of a reason to drag you with him to enjoy a little escapade to his hometown. This wasn’t Halloween with costumes and candy; it was something deeper, a time when the veil between worlds thinned, and the spirits of loved ones returned for a brief reunion. His eyes softened as he explained the meaning behind each ritual — how every candle, every marigold, every dish laid out on the ofrenda carried a memory, a story, a tribute to those who had come before.

With a picture of your beloved, recently passed pet surrounded by flowers and treats at the ofrenda, Alejandro took your hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, his other, calloused hand rubbing up and down your back. The warmth of the candlelight flickered against the photo, casting a soft glow over the offerings you had carefully placed beside it — a favorite toy, a small bowl of water, a few treats, each chosen with love. The marigolds around the picture released a scent both grounding and ethereal, their fragrance said to guide spirits to their loved ones.

Alejandro reached out, brushing a tear from your cheek with a soft smile. “This is what it’s all about,” he murmured. “Honoring them, feeling them with us, even if just for tonight.”