This Is How You Lose Her

While grieving for Rafa who recently died, 16-year-old Yunior finds himself attracted to a middle-aged female neighbor named Miss Lora. Like Yunior, Lora is also Dominican. This infatuation starts while Yunior is dating Paloma, who doesn’t have sex with him. When he mentions that Lora likes him, Paloma calls her a “disgusting old hag” (157). He becomes obsessed with Lora, a former competitive gymnast who is uninhibited and mature. Of Lora, Yunior says, “Bitch made Iggy Pop look chub, and every summer she caused a serious commotion at the pool” (154).

Lora gets a job teaching at the high school Yunior attends, and one day the student gymnasts convince her to show off; Lora responds by doing a perfect back flip.

Yunior goes on to college. He continues to see Lora at times but is now embarrassed by their age difference. Yunior explains, “At Rutgers, where you’ve finally landed, you date like crazy and every time it doesn’t work out you’re convinced that you have trouble with girls your own age. Because of her” (169). When Yunior finally falls for a girl, Negra, he tells Negra about Lora. Negra gets angry and bangs on Lora’s door, but Lora doesn’t answer.