In the Midst of Winter

Before Andres had the opportunity to meet his mother in the U.S., the MS-13 gang exacted revenge on Gregorio’s family. When Concepcion was away, the gang members killed Andres and violently raped Evelyn. When Concepcion returned home to see the bloodshed, she was able to get Evelyn to the hospital in time to heal her physically, but Andres was already dead.

When Evelyn was able to regain consciousness, she became mute. Concepcion took Evelyn to see a healer, Felicita, who fed the young girl a medicinal tea that made her have hallucinogenic dreams. Evelyn dreamed that her two brothers’ bodies were intact and that there was a jaguar that protected her throughout her journey. She was able to speak again, but only a few words. Felicita explained that the jaguar represented “the power of life that the ancients had” (94). To dream of the jaguar was a good omen.

With the help of a priest, Father Benito, and a doctor, Nuria Castell, Concepcion was able to secure a “coyote,” or guide, through an agency who could deliver Evelyn to Chicago. Miriam’s earnings were able to pay for most of the journey. In preparation for the trip, Evelyn was told to pretend to be Mexican when they reached Mexico, and to pretend to be completely mute to avoid detection by the authorities.