The everyday lives of Cubans unfold in the midst of collapse: censorship, scarcity, blackouts, and the largest emigration in the island’s history. Romanticized depictions of this Communist society continue to overshadow urgent human rights issues and personal stories. As Reinaldo Arenas wrote, “there’s just one place to live—the impossible.” That line is no longer metaphor—it shapes the rhythm of everyday life in a country sustained by mutual support, quiet defiance and the will to endure. This is about a present tense that must be seen, named, and remembered.
