Dear Iker

​

It's four in the morning and I still can't sleep, I've been tossing and turning all night.  

It's sweltering hot.  

The Meteorological Center announced yesterday that the heat was going to be unbearable, because the forecasts estimated  that could be reached today, an average of 35 degrees. Of course they have not been wrong, because at this time the thermometer reads 30 degrees.  

The apartment where I live is small, it is located in a residential complex on the beach, all the apartments have a beautiful garden, which was the main reason why I decided to rent it, it only has one room and a large open room that connects with a kitchenette. I live with my dog Laila. There it is at the foot of my bed.

I feel like a knot in my stomach, I don't know where this anguish comes from. It is as if he senses that something bad is going to happen. This has happened to me from a very young age, I have always had a very good intuition, at first I did not care about it, but over the years I have learned to pay attention to it, because I have realized that it does not usually fail.

It is like an inner turmoil.

As I see that I will no longer be able to sleep, I make myself an iced tea and go to the garden, with this heat it is better outside than inside the house.

As I have nothing better to do, I check the mail, there is one of which I do not recognize the sender, the only thing that puts in the subject is "Dear Mommy Alma."

My heart has skipped a beat, there is only one person in the world who called me that way. It took me a while to open the mail.

The last time I saw him, it was one afternoon when we passed each other on the street, had a coffee and it seemed that life was going well for him. He had gotten a job in an equestrian show, as a groom, I was very glad that he got that position.

I was very happy, Iker had always had a special sensitivity to animals. It could already be an ant or an elephant, they all seemed fascinating to him. At the age of 5, while the other boys his age were only thinking about playing soccer, he asked me to buy him a book about insects. I found one for children in which all kinds of arthropods appeared: arachnids, insects, myriapods and crustaceans, which he ended up learning by heart. Although that love for animals was already in his nature, I want to think that I also had something to do with that vocation.

I spent many years of my life working as a foster home educator and becoming emotionally involved with these children was inevitable. With some more than with others.

Iker was one of those children with whom I had a special connection.

He told me that he was dating a girl with whom he felt happy and calm. But that was 10 years ago! So why are you writing to me after so long?

This is what the email says:

Dear mommy Alma!

I hope you are well, I have not heard from you for a long time, the news reached me that you moved to France to work as a veterinary nurse. What you always wanted, no wonder you quit your job as an educator, it's very hard.

I've wanted to call you for a long time, but you know, time goes by and we lock ourselves in the comfort of our bubble.

Sorry to have to contact you with bad news.  

I don't know who else to turn to. You are the only person I can trust with what is happening to Noha.

Noha is in a difficult situation. He called me a few days ago, told me he was in a hurry, another one! We agreed to meet that afternoon, but he didn't show up. I've been calling him for several days and his phone is disconnected.

I wish we could meet and explain well what is happening, but I do not want to do it by mail.

I'm writing to you because I don't have your phone. I called home to ask for it, and even though I explained who it was, they didn't want to give it to me, I understand. They gave me your email.

I leave you my phone number, please, get in touch with me as soon as you can. It is urgent. A hug. Your dear Iker.

When I finished reading the mail I started walking around the garden to relax, Laila has perked up and chases me thinking that I am playing. I feel a pang in my heart and I think:

"Oh, my little Noha, how unfair life has been with you"