I’m No Longer Here

In the bustling margins of Monterrey, 17‑year‑old Ulises leads a tight‑knit crew of friends who have turned the streets into a vibrant laboratory of style and sound. Their world pulses to cumbia rebajada, a slowed‑down, bass‑heavy take on the classic Colombian rhythm that fuels spontaneous dance parties, bright‑colored outfits, and wildly creative haircuts. This youthful counter‑culture, known as “Kolombia,” is as much about carving out joy and identity as it is about surviving the restless energy of the neighborhood.

A sudden confrontation with a powerful cartel shatters that fragile equilibrium, forcing Ulises to leave behind the familiar cadence of his community and the gang that has become his family. With only a handful of possessions and a lingering sense of unfinished celebration, he embarks on a precarious journey northward, eventually arriving in the sprawling borough of Queens, New York. The city’s concrete canyons and endless rush of languages present a stark contrast to the rhythmic heartbeat of his hometown, and the young exile finds himself adrift amid unfamiliar customs and a language that feels as foreign as the skyline.

As Ulises navigates day‑to‑day survival in a new country, the pull of his Monterrey roots grows ever stronger. The hypnotic beats that once defined his nights now echo in his memory, turning everyday moments into quiet reveries of the parties and friendships he left behind. Through fleeting connections with strangers and tentative attempts to recreate the music that once bound his world, he discovers that the quest for belonging often rests not only in the places we inhabit, but in the rhythms that continue to pulse within us.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 at 14:45