“Get out of here, you ungrateful woman!” her mother yelled at Adelaida as she pushed her toward the door.
Adelaida almost fell, trying to keep her balance. Her mother glared at her with a hatred that hurt more than words.
“Don’t come back! I never want to see you again! You bitch!” she said before slamming the door.
Adelaida froze on the threshold, feeling her heart shatter into a thousand pieces.
“Mom, please, I swear I didn’t… he…” she tried to explain, but there was no one to listen.

Her stepfather, a drunk and disgusting man, had tried to abuse her, and when Adelaida told her mother, the woman simply wouldn’t believe her. In her mother’s opinion, Adelaida was only looking to interfere with his new relationship and ruin everything. So, he kicked her out of the house without a second thought.
Chapter 2: Wandering the Streets
Alone, wandering the cobblestone streets of the small mining town, Adelaida begged for alms. The cold air cut into her skin, and hunger made her feel weak. Men looked at her with eyes that made her feel dirty, especially those who were alone or in groups of other drunks. She knew those were the worst.
The hours passed slowly, and hunger became an unbearable companion. Adelaida felt invisible, as if the world had forgotten her. As the Day of the Dead approached, she couldn’t help but think of her father. She remembered how, when he was alive, the house would be filled with marigolds and candles. This year, her mother wouldn’t do anything, she knew that well.

With the little she had managed to take when she was kicked out—including a photo of her father—she decided to make an altar on her own. With flowers she picked from the roads and some food she had begged for—some hard tortillas and some overripe fruit—she put together her small offering in a secluded corner, under an old tree. She knelt before her father’s photo and, her heart broken, burst into tears.
“Dad, if you really love me, come for me… Take me with you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I don’t want to be here anymore.”
The wind ruffled her hair, soft, as if someone invisible were caressing her head. Exhausted, she fell asleep next to the altar.
Chapter 4: The Revelation
At dawn, she woke up. Her hunger hadn’t disappeared, so even though the food no longer tasted like anything, she couldn’t waste it. She ate what little remained of the offering, then walked through the streets again, searching for something else among the scraps.
Suddenly, she saw her mother approaching. She was running, crying. Before Adelaida could react, the woman hugged her tightly.
“Forgive me, daughter, please forgive me,” her mother said through tears, holding her tightly. “I didn’t believe you… but I saw him last night.”
Adelaida looked at her, motionless, still suspicious. She didn’t know if she wanted to listen, but her mother continued talking, her voice breaking.
“I left him drinking, like always… and went to sleep. Then I heard screams… I ran downstairs and saw him… floating in the air, slamming himself against the walls. He looked like a doll! He was screaming, ‘Please don’t kill me! I confess, I wanted to sleep with Adelaida!’ And then… he fell to the ground. He was dead, daughter. Dead!” she sobbed. “And then I heard a voice… a voice that wasn’t of this world. It said to me, ‘Get out of the house and find your daughter, or I swear next year I’ll come back and drag you to hell.’”
Adelaida felt a chill run through her body, but her anger faded when she saw her mother so vulnerable, so destroyed. They hugged. In that moment, she decided she would forgive her, that they would try to start over.
Chapter 5: Returning Home
Before returning home, Adelaida looked up at the cloudy sky, a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Thank you, Dad,” she murmured softly. “I knew you would come to take care of me.”
When they entered the house, the atmosphere was tense. The shadow of her stepfather still seemed to lurk in the corners. Adelaida felt a chill, but she tried hard to ignore it. Her mother had promised she would never let him in again.
“I’m going to talk to him,” her mother said determinedly. “I can’t let him hurt you again.”
Adelaida nodded, although fear filled her. She knew her mother had been weak before, but this time, she seemed determined.
Chapter 6: The Confrontation
That night, her mother prepared to confront her stepfather. Adelaida watched from a distance, feeling her heart pounding. The conversation was tense, and although she couldn’t hear everything, the words she heard were enough to understand that her mother was furious.
“You’ll never touch my daughter again,” her mother shouted. “If you don’t stay away from us, I’ll call the police.”
Adelaida, hearing this, felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. Would it be enough? Would her mother really have the courage to keep that promise?
AfterwardAfter a while, her mother returned, visibly shaken but determined.
“He’s out of our lives, Adelaida. He won’t come back,” she said, hugging her daughter tightly.
Chapter 7: Healing Together
The days passed, and although the wound remained open, Adelaida and her mother began to rebuild their relationship. They made the altar together for the Day of the Dead, filling it with flowers and memories.
Adelaida realized that, despite everything, there was still love between them. Her mother had made mistakes, but she had also fought for her.
“We’re going to do this together,” her mother said as they placed the flowers. “So that your dad is always with us.”
Adelaida smiled, feeling that, for the first time in a long time, there was hope.
Chapter 8: New Traditions
The Day of the Dead arrived, and the town came alive. Adelaida and her mother joined in the festivities, sharing stories about her father and remembering the good times.
Laughter and tears intertwined, and Adelaida felt stronger. She knew her father would always be with them, guiding them through this new chapter of their lives.
Chapter 9: The Bright Future
Over time, Adelaida began to dream again. She enrolled in school, determined to finish her studies. Her mother, although still dealing with her own demons, became her greatest support.
They both learned to communicate, to trust each other. Little by little, the house was filled with laughter and hope.
Chapter 10: A New Beginning
A year later, Adelaida looked at the altar they had created together. The marigold flowers shone in the sun, and a feeling of peace enveloped her.
“Thank you, Dad,” she whispered. “Thank you for taking care of us.”
Her mother came over and hugged her.
“We’ll always be together,” she said. “We’ll always be strong.”
Adelaida smiled, feeling that she had finally found her place in the world. Although life had been hard, she had learned to get up and fight.
And so, with her heart full of love and gratitude, Adelaida looked to the future, ready to face any challenge that might arise.