How does the flashback to Abuela's life in Cuba affect the story? The flashback of the incident of young love between Abuela and Alejandro is the resolution to the story. It provides a suspenseful subplot by showing how Abuela's family escaped from Cuba. It sets up a surprise at the end of the story, where the reader learns that Alejandro, a boy Abuela loved in Cuba, has been writing the letters. It creates a mystery having to do with why Abuela and Alejandro didn't stay in touch after Abuela 's family left Cuba.