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Originally written in Spanish, translated by OpenAI.
I downloaded this app years ago to complete an assignment for a literature class. After that, I forgot about it for a few years, but in 2021, I started using it again because of the quarantine. Who would have thought that thanks to that assignment, I would meet an incredible person?
In the beginning, it was quite simple—sometimes I received letters from people in other countries, and it was interesting, but for various reasons, we’d stop talking.
Later, I took the initiative to start sending letters to random people; sometimes they left me on read, sometimes they didn’t receive it, sometimes we’d stop talking for various reasons. Then I met Karla. It was around the middle of 2021 that I sent one more letter, not expecting a response. But quickly, there was synergy in the letters, and we started exchanging more about everyday topics like the pandemic, high school workshops, or decorating an imaginary apartment. As it happened, she lived in Mexico City (I live in Puebla, and the cities are roughly two hours apart).
The letters flowed well; they were interesting and enjoyable, always leaving me pondering the topics we discussed (mainly transhumanism). After many exchanged letters, I invited her to a party with friends in Atlixco (imagine if by chance she had actually gone—just unreal. I knew she wouldn’t go; in my mind, I always thought it was impossible to meet someone from Slowly in real life). She said the invitation sounded amazing.
Months went by like this until the periods of silence started becoming longer, just like with most people I exchanged letters with. I had resigned myself to the idea that she would eventually stop replying for reasons I didn’t know. (I understand that the daily melodramas we all experience pull us away and barely leave us time to reply to letters; real-life responsibilities overwhelm us, and time is scarce. So it wasn’t a big deal. I suppose it’s natural and didn’t bother me.)
With the long gaps between letters, I sent what I thought would be my last one…
I should clarify that one of my favorite qualities of Slowly is the wait for letters. Unlike the immediacy of WhatsApp, where an emoji or a “hi” is sent without much thought, letters here are more carefully crafted. They’re longer, require a wait, and are limited; they require more effort and therefore create special bonds.
To my surprise, two months later, she sent me a letter. I was incredulous—I had inwardly resigned myself to not receiving a reply. The surprise grew when I saw only a Spotify link in the letter. As Cioran would say, “music, solitude, and enhanced ecstasy.” I copied the link into my Safari browser, and it took me to a song with vague lyrics and meanings. I didn’t know what she was trying to tell me—a fascinating, emotional, melancholic dance-punk song, mostly melancholic, talking about sad thoughts in French. I didn’t know how to interpret it, and naturally, I was worried. I’d never felt so lost; I replied with a letter, and not seeing a response to the first, I sent a second one accompanied by an album…
I received a reply—two, actually. One of them included her phone number (I don’t know if this counts as cheating on Slowly, but thanks to the ease WhatsApp provides, we started talking more) and began having late-night calls when we both had time. They’re amazing calls (we still have them to this day), always interesting, talking about life.
To keep it short, due to a twist of fate, I had to go to Mexico City and messaged her. Given the area I was going to, I thought there was a good chance we could meet…and meet in real life. So, I mentioned it to her, and that’s what happened. We spent a pleasant afternoon in downtown Mexico City, walking around Bellas Artes and going to a classic café in the Torre Latinoamericana. A unique experience.
I took the photo that day from the café terrace.
To this day, I’m still amazed at having met someone in person thanks to Slowly. I always saw it as impossible, and extraordinarily, it’s someone I get along with so well. We talk almost every day, and there’s always fascinating conversation between us.
