It is cold

Mummy, where are you?

Daddy, I miss you

Where are you?

We are in pain here

These people are wicked

They are terrible

We are children

It is cold

So cold

And wet

It rained all night

My body hurts

There are so many mosquitoes

Why are they doing this to children?

It was Children’s Day the other day

And here we are

Beaten, starved, wet

You tell us we are the future

We are your tomorrow

Yet, we are suffering today

We are sitting in the hot sun during the day

We lay on the hard, wet floor of the forest at night

We eat very little

When we do eat, it is horrible

Mummy, where are you?

Daddy, I miss you

I know you will come

I know you weep for us

Please don’t lose hope

We will try and be brave

We will lead tomorrow

That means we will not die today

Wicked people

Bad people

Haters of children

We will survive this

We will live much longer than you

You are alive but you are dead

Mummy, please hold my hand

Even if you can’t see me

Daddy, touch my head

Even if I am just a warm thought in your mind

It is cold

I will think about warmth

About you

About tomorrow

About freedom

I love you Mummy

I love you Daddy

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Leadership Coach, Policy Advocate and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com