I couldn't help crying while painting your portrait and I deeply regret knowing you this way. While capturing your features (the shape of your lips, the line of your hair, your beautiful cheekbones) I began to think about how much I would've liked to know what things you liked: the music you danced, your favorite food, what goals you had, if you preferred make-up or nails polish, if you enjoyed walking barefoot like I do, what your laughter sounded like, what made you blush or your children's name. I cried the double as I tried to imagine the fear and despair you felt in the moment your life was being ripped out and the pain your family went through when they found out what happened to you, and it made me angry that the only photos shown in the media were terrible pictures as if you were nothing but a number, but I finally found you and I was able to see a little part of your life thanks to yourself. I wish I've had the power to save you. ♦ Celsa Yunkiat Centeno (23 y/o) from Waspan-Nicaragua, mother of 3, cruelly murdered in early july of this year.
