Pedrito’s 30 Days with ICE.Fictional Memoir

Pedrito’s Diary, Day 26

February 16, 2025

After finishing the work in the bathroom, I barely remember my walk to my bed. I just collapsed upon it and pulled my blanket over me. I was so very tired that I fell asleep immediately.

When I finally woke up, the few lights in the building were on. I sat up in my bed with the blanket still over me. All the brothers and Gabriel were looking at me. “Are you okay?” Diego asked. “Yes, I just needed a rest.” I answered. “You obviously needed a lot of rest. Good that you got some,” said Alejandro. Gabriel almost literally jumped to my bed and hugged me. “I am so happy you are okay, Pedrito!” He said in a loud voice, and asked: “Are you going to have dinner?” I realized then that I was quite hungry. I was glad to hear that it was time for our evening meal. All of us left our bed area to get our food.

I ate every bit of my food and almost emptied my water bottle. I was still tired. So, I lied down on my bed. Gabriel came over right away, looked me in the eyes and begged me: “Pedrito, please tell me a bedtime story! Please!” I thought about the stories Mama told Gabriela and me every night. I remembered several of them really well. Amongst them, I picked one that had the happiest ending, and I started telling it to Gabriel. Just then, the lights were turned off. Before I finished my story, Gabriel was fast asleep. I asked Diego very softly: “Could you please give me Gabriel’s blanket?” Diego brought it right away, and I pulled it gently over Gabriel.

I stayed awake a while longer, thinking about Gabriela. I wondered if she had this kind of caring children around her, or if she was lonely every day and every night.

© hülya n. yılmaz, March 5, 2025