Pedrito’s Diary, Day 14
February 4, 2025
I was feeling very tired and cold. I lied down but not on my blanket like I did almost every night so far. I put it over me this time. My body was aching all over. The cold concrete floor made me ache even more. I badly needed to sleep. In my sleep, I wouldn’t feel the cold. Also, maybe I could dream about Mama again.
I woke up to my little friend’s voice: “Pedrito, we are all going to the boulder. Do you need to pee?” I hadn’t eaten anything, and I didn’t drink from my water. “No, Gabriel. Thank you. You all go ahead. I’m going to try to sleep more.” Gabriel rushed to the brothers with a quick “You’re welcome!”
I fell asleep again. “Pedrito, my darling, are you okay?” Mama was in my dream again. “Mama, I feel sick,” I told her. “My poor darling! Think about your warm bed in our home, and remember how I took care of you and Gabriela whenever both of you were sick.” I woke up with tears on my face. I remembered how Mama would make us a delicious winter soup when my sister and I were sick at the same time. She would sit by us until we finished the thick soup, then she would cover us with our thick comforters.
I looked at the puny blanket over me. The cement floor was making me feel very cold all over again. How was Gabriela doing, I wondered. Was she eating? Was she sleeping? Did she have children by her who were caring like the brothers? I felt desperate to see her but there was nothing I could do.
I just could not understand why people were doing this to our family. Who was doing this? Why were Mama and Papa taken away from Gabriela and me? Why couldn’t Gabriela and me stay together? Why do we have to sleep on the floor? Why do we have to use the big boulder as a toilet? Why are we not getting regular food? When is this all going to end?
My tears flooded down my chin.
© hülya n. yılmaz, February 14, 2025
hülyaswritings 