#259 Nemecia- Kirsten Valdez Quade
Maria is seven years younger than her cousin, Nemecia, and
sees her as an older sister. And like any younger sister, she bears the weight
of jealously, admiration, and the need to find her own identity in the shadow
of someone more defined.
This family is racked with a tragedy. Nemecia’s mother died
when she was seven. Protecting her and giving her a loving home has become
Maria’s parent’s biggest concern. Maria doesn’t understand, and tries to find
out the truth of what happened. Nobody will tell her, because the memories are
so sad, and she is so innocent.
“You are lucky, Maria to have been born after that day,
You’re untouched.”
Whe she pries her family to tell her, she gets vague answers
like: “It’s best forgotten.” Or “It’s beyond imagining”
“The whole town seemed to have agreed to keep me in the
dark.” This adds to her resentment of Nemecia. Children understand and feel
keenly when another child is getting special attention. Perhaps if she had been
told why Nemecia needed to be treated differently, Maria would have
undetrstood. But the family doesn’t seem to work that way. When there is a
conflict between the girls, Maria is the one that is sent to live briefly with
their aunt, instead of Nemecia. That’s a hard lesson for a young girl already
feeling unloved to learn.
Like the scar on her cheek caused by Nemecia, these wounds
never truly heal.
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