Entre Nos

Mariana finds herself in a very difficult position when her husband abandons her. She is an illegal immigrant, only being in the U.S. a couple weeks, when he deserts her and her two children. She has no job, no connections, no skills, and doesn’t even speak English. She experiences a vast array of emotions. She goes from anger that he would be so selfish to follow his own whims without regard for the welfare of his family, to hope and anxiousness as she waits for him to call and send for them. She then feels hostility toward him as the reality sets in that he has deserted them. She was very courageous for the sake of her children but the depression, despair, and helplessness that she felt spilled out when her children were asleep. She was determined though and was willing to do anything to survive, even pick through garbage to find aluminum to recycle for cash. Her children suffered greatly as they walked from dawn to dusk, were often sleep deprived, dirty, and hungry. The thing that impressed me was how tolerant they were. They never complained and actually became empowered, as when her son collected cans on his own when she was ill, proudly bringing her back money and food. Their strength and determination was exemplified when he insists they complete their work before eating, despite the fact that they were exhausted and starving. The saying, “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger” comes to mind when I think about what Mariana and her kids went through. This experience strengthened them as individuals and as a family unit. They equally suffered, made sacrifices, and supported each other. It’s no wonder they all overcame this awful situation and led prosperous and successful lives.

 Beth Niehaus