Patricia Morales

Patricia Morales kept looking for her younger sister Carmen as she hurried towards the protection of the palm trees with the young boy’s hand in a tight grip. When they ran between pieces of luggage and oh God – body parts, she spotted another child, an Asian girl that was sitting on the ground and crying. Next to her was the body of a young boy. He wasn’t moving.

She turned right behind a large piece of metal that seemed to come from one of the plane’s wings and soon reached the children.

“Help him,” the young girl sobbed as she for just a moment looked up from the boy in front of her and met Patricia’s eyes. “He’s my brother, please help him.”

Patricia felt so helpless. What was she supposed to do? It felt like her mind was completely still, like all her thoughts were moving around in slow motion or some thick liquid. Then suddenly the thought of checking the boy’s pulse hit her and she did.

“He’s alive,” she said quickly, looking between the young Asian girl and the blonde boy she brought with her from beside the plane. “He’s breathing and his heart is beating, but I’m not sure if we should move him. Did you find him here?” She directed the comment to the girl, who nodded slowly.

“But I don’t know where mom is.”

Patricia chewed on her bottom lip for a moment and then tried to smile encouragingly at both of them. “We’ll try to find your moms, okay? But I think we should stay here for now, until I can find someone to help us move him. I think we’re safe here.” They weren’t far from the protection of the tropical forest; she didn’t think anything would happen to them here. “You know what? We should try to find some clothes that are lying around and use them as blankets to keep him warm. But don’t go far!”

Both kids agreed, seeming happy to be able to help, and Patricia calmed down a bit. Maybe they’d all be okay.