The memory of a moment of vulnerability at the Vermuteria Lou serves as a starting point for reflecting on the initial sense of stability and acceptance the author felt upon arriving in Barcelona, escaping a province where he felt trapped.

This search for a new reality, which initially seemed full of promises and incredible friendships, soon encountered the complexity of life abroad. The author points out that this is a shared experience for thousands of people who discover the emotional fragility and temporality that permeates bonds forged far from home.

When living far from the original environment, there is no room for superficial relationships. There is an urgent need for quick roots and complicity that can sustain nostalgia. However, the rhythm of the city forces constant self-introduction, often without transforming into real and lasting intimacy.

The author criticizes the modern trend of “meeting to catch up,” which turns friendship into a simple exchange of data without room for vulnerability. This superficiality is especially cruel for those who have had to start from scratch, as emotional depth is the only thing that can make a new city feel habitable.

Finally, the article concludes that friendship, now more necessary than ever, must be understood as an act of courage. Referring to the song Ci vorrebbe un amico, the author stresses that being a refuge and listening without haste is the challenge to make the world seem, for an instant, a completely habitable place.