El otoño pintaba las hojas de los árboles con colores cálidos y vibrantes.

The autumn painted the leaves of the trees with warm and vibrant colors.

En el interior del pabellón psiquiátrico, el ambiente era diferente.

Inside the psychiatric pavilion, the atmosphere was different.

Las paredes casi impolutas y el suave sonido de pasos en los pasillos creaban un entorno de serenidad.

The almost immaculate walls and the soft sound of footsteps in the hallways created an environment of serenity.

Sin embargo, en la mente de Santiago, las cosas nunca estaban tan tranquilas.

However, in Santiago's mind, things were never so calm.

Santiago miraba por la ventana, observando cómo las hojas caían lentamente.

Santiago looked out the window, watching how the leaves fell slowly.

Para él, el Día de los Muertos era un tiempo especial.

For him, Día de los Muertos was a special time.

Recordaba a su abuela, a quien había amado profundamente.

He remembered his grandmother, whom he had loved deeply.

Sentía que ella intentaba comunicarse con él.

He felt that she was trying to communicate with him.

Pero, a menudo, sus pensamientos se convertían en un mar de confusión.

But, often, his thoughts turned into a sea of confusion.

Él sabía que estaba luchando contra sus propias ilusiones.

He knew he was battling his own illusions.

María, su enfermera, pasaba cerca de su habitación frecuentemente.

María, his nurse, frequently passed by his room.

Ella era amable y siempre le hablaba con calma.

She was kind and always spoke to him calmly.

“Hoy es un día bonito, Santiago.

"Today is a beautiful day, Santiago.

¿Lo ves?”, decía ella, mientras abría las cortinas un poco más, dejando que la luz cálida del sol de otoño entrara.

Do you see it?"

Santiago sonreía, pero sus pensamientos estaban en otro lugar.

she would say, while opening the curtains a bit more, letting the warm autumn sunlight in.

Decidió que quería hacer un altar para su abuela.

Santiago smiled, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

"Ella merece ser recordada", pensó.

He decided he wanted to create an altar for his grandmother.

María notó su concentración en algo importante y se preocupó.

"She deserves to be remembered," he thought.

Pero lo dejó tranquilo, respetando su momento.

María noticed his concentration on something important and was concerned.

En la sala común, Santiago se encontró con Leonor, otra paciente.

But she left him alone, respecting his moment.

Ella siempre lo escuchaba sin juzgarlo.

In the common room, Santiago met Leonor, another patient.

“Voy a hacer un altar para mi abuela”, le confesó con una sonrisa que reflejaba algo de esperanza.

She always listened to him without judging.

Leonor asintió.

“I'm going to make an altar for my grandmother,” he confessed with a smile that reflected some hope.

“Eso suena bonito, Santiago”, respondió con suavidad.

Leonor nodded.

Santiago recolectó pequeños objetos de su cuarto.

“That sounds beautiful, Santiago,” she replied gently.

Usó un pañuelo viejo, algunas flores secas y un dibujo que le había hecho a su abuela cuando era niño.

Santiago gathered small objects from his room.

Colocó todo con cuidado en un rincón de su habitación, creando el altar improvisado.

He used an old handkerchief, some dried flowers, and a drawing he had made for his grandmother as a child.

Sus manos temblaban, no de miedo, sino de emoción.

He placed everything carefully in a corner of his room, creating the improvised altar.

Una noche, cuando la luna brillaba intensamente, Santiago se escabulló de su habitación.

His hands trembled, not out of fear, but with emotion.

La tarea era arriesgada, pero su determinación era mayor.

One night, when the moon was shining brightly, Santiago sneaked out of his room.

Al llegar a su altar, se arrodilló y, en su mente, inició una conversación con su abuela.

The task was risky, but his determination was greater.

De repente, sintió una presencia a su lado.

When he reached his altar, he knelt and, in his mind, started a conversation with his grandmother.

El corazón le dio un vuelco.

Suddenly, he felt a presence beside him.

Fue un instante mágico.

His heart skipped a beat.

Creía que era su abuela, su espíritu, allí para consolarlo.

It was a magical moment.

María lo encontró poco después, sentado en el suelo, con lágrimas en sus ojos.

He believed it was his grandmother, her spirit, there to console him.

“Santiago”, susurró con cariño, “vamos, es hora de descansar.

María found him shortly after, sitting on the floor, with tears in his eyes.

Tu abuela siempre vive en ti.

“Santiago,” she whispered affectionately, “come on, it's time to rest.

No necesitas verla para sentirla”.

Your grandmother always lives within you.

Santiago, por primera vez, entendió el mensaje.

You don't need to see her to feel her.” Santiago, for the first time, understood the message.

Asintió con la cabeza mientras María lo ayudaba a levantarse.

He nodded as María helped him to his feet.

Juntos regresaron a su habitación.

Together they returned to his room.

Los días siguientes, Santiago se sintió diferente.

In the following days, Santiago felt different.

Aún veía las hojas caer, pero dentro de su pecho, había un nuevo sentido de calma.

He still watched the leaves fall, but inside his chest, there was a new sense of calm.

La paz que tanto había anhelado estaba más cerca.

The peace he had longed for was closer.

Sabía que, aunque su abuela ya no estuviera físicamente, su legado y amor eran eternos.

He knew that although his grandmother was no longer physically present, her legacy and love were eternal.

Y así, Santiago comenzó a separar las ilusiones de la realidad, con la certeza de que su abuela siempre estaría con él en su corazón.

And so, Santiago began to separate his illusions from reality, with the certainty that his grandmother would always be with him in his heart.