Memorias del Silencio 13

-pitched voice say, “Dad did you hear that” to which the man replied, “Yes, be careful we don’t know what it might be or who it can be.” I was scared when I heard the footsteps of the two people very close to me in such a short time. I felt a foot hit my hip. I did not move, and I did not make a noise to see if they were going ahead. Although, the person thought differently and felt his hand begging to touch against what had hit his foot. “There is someone right here dad,” he said and walked away a little, and then, the man said, “Stand up, whoever you are!” I think he was addressing me, but I did not understand anything he said, and then, he after shouted “STAND UP NOW.” I thought he was going to hurt me, and when I thought about it, tears came running down my face without stopping at the thought that I would die. I could not hear very well what the two men were talking about because my sobs were louder. “Hey, do you speak Spanish.” One of them told me. “We are not going to hurt you, please stay calm,” and he continued to say, “please stop crying.”

I decided to pay attention, and little by little, I calmed down.

When I felt my body get a little more relaxed, I got up from the floor and said to the two men, “I’m sorry, but I thought you would hurt me. I’m not looking for problems. I was leaving.” I started walking, and then, I felt someone grab me by the arm, but it was not a strong grip; it was delicate as if he was afraid of hurting me. “What’s your name?” he asked me. “My name is Carmen, and you?” and I heard him say, “I’m Jordan, and the one who comes with me is my father Stephen.”

We got to know each other a little more, and I knew that they were here because they decided to explore for a while and that it was just the two of them. Jordan also told me that his father spoke almost no Spanish because they came from Georgia.

I told them about my family and that we came from Mexico, which was ironic because those from Georgia do not like Mexicans; those from around there were very racist with us. We continued advancing until we reached my home, as they insisted on accompanying me so that I arrived safely. When I arrived, I introduced them to my family, and they got along very well; my Memorias del silencio vol. XIII 77