Before Night Falls

During one of his weekend trips from the farm to Holguín, Arenas meets a man named Raúl on a shared boat taxi. Surrounded by other people, Raúl masturbates Arenas in the dark. Arenas feels liberated: It is the first time he orgasms with a man. When they arrive in Holguín, Arenas runs from Raúl, who wants his number. At home, Arenas worries that his family notices his elation.

The next day Arenas looks for Raúl in a park popular with young people. He finds him and Raúl brings him to a gay bar. The bar is a revelation to Arenas, who for once does not feel he has to hide his sexuality.

Over the following months, Arenas spends every weekend with Raúl in one of Holguín’s hotels. He falls in love with Raúl, who initiates Arenas into eroticism beyond the sexual games of his childhood. For Raúl—who, unlike Arenas, has had other lovers—the relationship is insignificant and he ends it after four months. The break-up devastates Arenas, who wants a long-term relationship and does not know that such a thing is uncommon between gay men at the time.