Hambre

I open my eyes and see food, so much food.

Carnes, postres, y mariscos.

Pasteles, helado, galletas.

Just looking at all the food makes my mouth water.

When I dig my hand into the nearest cake and shove it into my mouth, I taste so many flavors - caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and, at the very end, apple.

Next, I shove a handful of chocolate in my mouth that melts as soon as it touches my tongue.

Then, I see a turkey leg, radiating warmth and sigh as the juices drip down my chin.

Just as I am about to reach for a cookie, I hear my mother say, “Despierta, chica! ¡Vas a llegar para la escuela!”, and a tear rolls down my cheek as I realize that all that food was just a dream.

That I don’t know when I will eat next, but that I must go to school, graduate high school, and go to college, so my children won’t end up like me.

Hambre, siempre hambre.