#mexicoonice

Me and my best friend, of course, went. We prepared ourselves for about two months, didn’t eat well so we could save enough for the trip and our cosplays... etcetera. We waited for it.

The days of the event arrived, and we couldn’t get their autographs. The first day, Saturday, the line was already closed when we arrived, so we took it as an opportunity to go and enjoy the rest of the event (we also participated in a little contest, it was so much fun), and we decided that the next day we would arrive early so we could get their autographs (which was the main goal for the trip).

Sunday came, and... We woke up as early as our bodies allowed us. We ran from our hotel to the convention center. We waited in the line for about 7 hours even when we were suffering so much. I’m not gonna lie: both of us were in immense pain due our periods. She has cystic ovaries, I have endometriosis, and believe me: They are not laughing matter. And we couldn’t seat in the floor, either. It was forbidden.

So, there were us, waiting and smiling even when our whole body were trying to kill us, because we didn’t want to give up the only thing we wanted for that trip.

When it was finally almost our turn... The autograph session was over. Yup, it was heartbreaking, but it wasn’t the moment to give up yet.

Yes, by that moment we couldn’t possibly get their autographs, but we could give them the gifts we had for them: A beautiful drawing in two parts of my friend and I, thanking Kubo and Yamamoto for their visit.

If they could receive it, well, we would have accomplished something. So we went to wait at the place we knew they would pass when they get off the scenario. While we waited, since there was a youtuber too (called Fernafloo but IDK, I didn’t really liked his fandom... It was rude), we were smashed against the contention bars when he passed. But we still waited.

And then, they came, and I don’t know how, but we stretched ourselves as far as we could so they could see us and the presents we had for them.

And Kubo herself grabbed them.

You know? When she took our presents, we went away from the contention bars, hugged each other and started crying.

We are emotional, yes. But we don’t like to cry in public.

In that moment, nothing mattered to us. All our feelings flowed like a river we couldn’t stop.

Yeah, we were happy, but we were also completely heartbroken.

Yuri!!! On Ice saved us. I think it’s the first time we loved something so much, so deeply. I can’t talk about her story (because it’s hers), but I can talk about mine.

I tried to kill myself last year. As you can see, I didn’t made it. But it was not a decision made in the spur of the moment, even when it seemed that way. I unconsciously were planning that since a long time ago, and I finally broke.

Then Yuri!!! On Ice appeared and... well, it literally saved me. It helped me to stand up again. I saw so much of myself in the main character, and his development helped me to develop myself.

Early this year, I talked with people I haven’t seen in years.

They all said me the same thing: “You look so happy! It’s like you are another person. I’m glad for you”. And it’s true. The me from that time would never have imagined all the things that happened after I reached that lowest spot: I sang in a stage, in front of an audience. I joined to my college theatre company, and then we performed Romeo and Juliet. And I was the best (I didn’t say it, our audience said it an it made me really happy, cause I didn’t act anything). I went to Guadalajara before to meet Reika-sama. I made new friends. I deepened the bond I shared with the ones who were already my friends.

Maybe it sounds too pathetic to say that Yuri!!! On Ice helped me to achieve those things, but it’s true. It inspired me. 

So it’s no surprise that I ended crying like a baby when I couldn’t meet Kubo and Yamamoto.

I repeat: Maybe you think it’s pathetic. Maybe it is, I don’t care.

What I think, is that I’m not the only who was inspired because of them.

And this is my main point: All the people from the fandom I could talk to while in the convention were ADORABLE. Really, I loved them all.

Me and my best friend could participate at a special contest for Kubo and Yamamoto, a special cosplay runway.

When we were waiting for the runway to start, we talked among us, and it was so much fun. We were nervous, but happy. I couldn’t sense any rivalry, on the contrary: We were cheering each other on, complimenting each others cosplays, having fun together. Personally, since I was cosplaying Yuuri, I was put together with other Yuuris (we were almost only eros, and two drunk!Yuuri hahaha) and they were AMAZING ₍₍ (̨̡ ‾᷄♡‾᷅ )̧̢ ₎₎ Well, all the people at the runway were. I wish I could contact them all to say “thanks”, because, really, it was wonderful to being surrounded by people overflowing love. (And also I want to see the photos we took together).

Also, there was a Viktor who tried to give me something to eat, haha. I didn’t accept (I don’t like people to pamper me, I don’t deserve it), but it made me reaaaally happy.

In general, the fandom behaved really well. We were asked to not take photos of videos to Sayo and Kubo, and we agreed. When it was time for the panel, we were asking to those who were recording to stop doing that: I don’t know, maybe some people found us annoying, but we were asked something and we wanted to comply.

And it was beautiful when “History Maker” started to sound at the event every now and then, and all started to sing together.

I insist: You could feel the love in the air. And I’m really happy for those who got their autographs, I know you will treasure them!

I want to remember forever this fandom and the things I learned from it. Unity. Love. Respect. Life. Determination. Kindness. Fun. Joy.

I have never been more grateful about being part of a fandom. I think it’s the best fandom I haver ever meet. I love how everyone did their best and also worried about the others.

I love how despite being mistreated by the fans of that youtuber (I insist: They were so rude towards us, specially) we sticked together. Literally and technically, haha.

Yes, I’m still heartbroken, but... Remembering the fandom fills me with so much energy and love! It was not in vain. Anything. Not even waiting in the line for 7 hours. Everything was worth it.