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Rafael Cruz

Rafael Antonio Cruz was a Puerto Rican construction worker, guitarist, and the husband of Marisol Cruz. Born on March 12, 1989, he became a father at seventeen, later sustained a permanently disabling back injury in a construction fall, and died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2022.

Early Life and Family

Rafael and Marisol were high-school sweethearts in Puerto Rico. When Marisol became pregnant at fifteen, Rafael was seventeen. He found construction work that initially paid cash under the table, stayed with Marisol, and supported her throughout the pregnancy. His close friend Hector Burgos was firmly in the couple’s corner while others predicted that Rafael would leave.

Rafael went ahead to the Miami area to secure construction work. Marisol followed with Ezra when Ezra was about two, and they reunited there to raise Ezra and Luna in Hialeah.

Rafael grew up playing guitar and singing, and he once hoped to pursue music professionally. Becoming a father changed the practical course of his life: he entered construction to support Marisol and Ezra, while music remained part of his home and family life.

Appearance and Presentation

Rafael stood approximately five feet ten inches tall, with a lean, strong build and broad shoulders developed through construction work. He had deep brown skin with warm mahogany undertones, dark brown eyes, and thick dark brown-black 3A/3B curls that he kept longer on top and shorter at the sides. His smile was bright, crooked, and slightly asymmetrical. Ezra inherited Rafael’s complexion, curls, eyes, lean build, and crooked smile.

His hands bore both parts of his working life. His left fingertips were callused from steel guitar strings, while his palms and knuckles were rough and scarred from construction. A pale scar crossed his left thumb from a saw injury at twenty-two. The fall that disabled him left a long surgical scar along his lower spine, in addition to smaller nicks and burns on his forearms from years of manual work. His guitar and construction calluses softened after the injury as he played and worked less.

Rafael had multiple tattoos connected to Marisol, Ezra, Luna, Puerto Rico, music, and Hector. His daily construction clothes included steel-toed boots, work jeans or Dickies, tank tops or henleys, and a high-visibility vest. After work, he favored fitted T-shirts or button-ups, clean sneakers, one or two chains, cologne, and his curls worn loose. On weekends, he also wore shorts, graphic tees, and guayaberas.

Personality, Voice, and Movement

Before his injury, Rafael was animated, charismatic, playful, affectionate, and comfortable being noticed. He was ambitious and intensely loyal to the people he loved; he approached plans and hopes with the quality Hector described as dreaming “with his whole chest.” Rosa Reyes once joked that he had “come out the womb dancing salsa and causing drama.” When he was happy, he laughed with his whole body, hummed or tapped out rhythms, and reached for Marisol, Hector, or one of the children.

Rafael spoke in a deep, rough low register with a Puerto Rican accent shaped over time by his years in Hialeah. Before the accident, his gait was loose and rhythmic, with an easy swagger. Afterward, pain made his movement increasingly careful, uneven, stiff, and guarded. He often braced his lower back, clenched his hands, or locked his jaw during severe flares. Following the injury and Hector’s death, his former animation gave way to longer periods of quiet, withdrawal, and melancholy.

Work, Injury, and Chronic Pain

Rafael eventually obtained regular construction work in Miami. At approximately twenty-five, he fell more than ten feet at a job site after a coworker failed to place equipment safely. The fall caused a permanently disabling back injury and severe chronic pain.

Rafael faced a prolonged workers’ compensation dispute after the accident. His pain could become intense enough to cause vomiting, and opioid medication became part of his pain treatment.

Hector, who worked as a dealership mechanic in Miami, died in a car accident after Rafael’s injury, when Ezra was eight. Rafael became markedly quieter and more withdrawn after the loss.

Music

Rafael was a gifted guitarist and singer who had wanted a professional music career before the demands of supporting a young family redirected him toward construction. He continued playing at home and shared music with Ezra, becoming his son’s first musical teacher. In one of Ezra’s remembered good moments with him, Rafael played classic bachata on guitar while Ezra sang.

Family and Core Relationships

Marisol Cruz

Rafael and Marisol became parents while they were teenagers in Puerto Rico. He remained with her, worked to support their household, and cared for her during the pregnancy. Their relationship continued through the family’s move to the Miami area and until Rafael’s death.

Ezra Cruz

Main article: Ezra Cruz and Rafael Cruz

Ezra strongly resembled Rafael and inherited his musical ability. Rafael played guitar with him and encouraged his development as a performer. Rafael’s death left Ezra with lasting grief.

Luna Cruz

Main article: Luna Cruz and Rafael Cruz

Luna was Rafael and Marisol’s younger child. She was three when Rafael sustained his construction injury.

Hector Burgos

Hector was Rafael’s closest friend and supported Rafael and Marisol from the beginning of their life as young parents. He later moved to Miami with them and worked as a mechanic. His death followed Rafael’s disabling injury.

Death

Rafael died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2022.

Memorable Quotes

“You’re gonna fucking dominate someday, mijo.”

Rafael said this to Ezra while they shared a good evening playing bachata together.

Characters Supporting Characters Deceased Characters Latinx Characters Puerto Rican Characters Disabled Characters Chronic Illness Characters Cruz Family