“Your mom is mentally ill,” say the villagers. What does mentally ill mean? My mom is not well, poor woman. But she is my mom and I love her. Even when she sees monsters, even when she screams and does not want to eat, even when it hurts. My mom needs someone to take care of her. Poor mom. These people do not understand, but do not worry: I am here. Even when you hurt me. Sometimes I am a little tired of looking for food and I am not sure what to do because I am just a child. And some nights I am scared, but you are my mom and I will take care of you. Even if they say you are crazy. Then one day a kind woman comes and says that she wants to help me, that there is a place for you and me, to learn to read and to write and to feel a little good. A place where you can finally be just a little girl: it is called the Via Pacis shelter house.
