Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, graphic violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, rape, pregnancy termination, and gender discrimination.

Raúl remembers a group trip to Oaxaca that he invited Liliana to join. She was interested but made no promises. She showed up for their departure but acted distant and told him that she decided to travel to Oaxaca with friends from the architecture program: “I walked away, feeling that every effort I’d put into trying to build a relationship with her had been utterly pointless” (170). Ana, too, recalls this trip, remarking on the discomfort of taking buses at night, but she says that such details are irrelevant “when you are twenty and your destination is utter beauty and absolute freedom” (171). Raúl ran into Liliana later and reconnected. 

Leonard Jasso remembers Liliana’s brief disappearance on the trip to Oaxaca, which caused him disappointment since he wanted to get to know her better. Raúl accompanied Liliana back to the hotel in Oaxaca when she later caught a cold. They fell asleep together, and when they awoke, she told him she needed time alone. She was gone when Raúl returned; he realized then that they would not have a romantic relationship.