Understanding when you don’t understand
‘…I am going to die, Desiré…’ This was the desperate cry of my mentee on the other side of the phone line at about 10:00 at night. ‘He’s going to kill me, she continues.
I was fast asleep when this call come in and did not know how to respond - confused I responded ‘no you will not die’. What I did not understand at that moment is that she could have died that evening. Maybe her stepfather beating her would not have killed her but the feeling of rejection, loneliness and total hate towards the man would have killed her. The idea of her mother choosing this man above her children would have killed her…but what was the real reason for this desperate cry. I believe and having spoken to my mentee that the real cry was the cry for safety, security and a life free of threat.
She is so tired of feeling afraid and alone and with no option but to survive this life. I had to come to the place where I ask myself do I give her another pep talk or do I do something practical…something that will protect/secure her life. I still don’t understand what I can do but I understand that she deserve a chance at life…a real chance.
What do you think? What do you do when you don’t understand young people?