Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Antonieta Contreras

Quote by Antonieta Contreras

Work

Traumatization and Its Aftermath

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Antonieta Contreras

Browse famous quotes and profile details for Antonieta Contreras. more

You May Also Like

“From then on, that Sunday was like a veil that came between me and everything I did. I would play, I would read, I would behave normally but somehow I wasn't there. Everything had become artificial. I had trouble learning my lessons, when before I only needed to read them once to know them by heart. Acutely aware of everything around me and yet unable to concentrate., I lost my insouciance and natural ability to learn. (...) I waited for the scene to be repeated. I was positive it would happen again. I found the presence of customers comforting, dreading the moments when my parents and I were alone, in the evenings and on Sunday afternoons. I was on the alert as soon as they raised their voices; I would scrutinize my father, his expression, his hands. In every sudden silence I would read the omens of disaster. Every day at school I wondered whether, on returning home, I would be faced with the aftermath of a tragedy.”

“Σιγά σιγά συνειδητοποιούσες πως δεν ήσουνα, πως δεν μπορούσες να γίνεις, σαν τους άλλους που έστεκαν περήφανοι, ωραίοι και ατρόμητοι απέναντι στη βία και στον φόβο. Κι έτσι ο φόβος γεννούσε κι άλλο φόβο. Αύξανε τον εαυτό του, γιγαντωνόταν κι άλλο μέχρι που επικρατούσε ολοκληρωτικά. Κι ήταν παρήγορο τελικά, ήταν ανακουφιστικό που επικρατούσε ο φόβος, γιατί ήταν κάτι ανθρώπινο και ήσυχο και γνώριμο. Ήταν ασφαλές. Αχ, ήταν σχεδόν όμορφο.”