“El Salto” is one of three winners of the CRAFT 2024 Memoir Excerpt & Essay Contest, guest judged by Donald Quist.

A richly personal piece navigating both the complexities of family bonds and the cultural tapestry of México. “El Salto” is a story about love, loss, and memory. With a clear and intimate voice, Jaime H. Herrera explores themes of migration, legacy, and the enduring connection between parent and child. A journey that spans both physical and emotional borders, the narrative is layered with ritual, tender exchanges, and the bittersweet process of saying goodbye. “El Salto” captures the powerful act of bringing a loved one home, not just in body, but in spirit. Illustrating how remembrance bridges gaps between the living and the departed, this narrative is a testament to the way we honor those who shape our lives, even as we let them go.  —Donald Quist

Read “El Salto” here.

Photo: Jaime Humberto Herrera Álvarez, Papá