The child

When Daren* was 1 year old his father went to Switzerland to give a better life to his child and wife. One year later, his mother joined his father in Switzerland, leaving toddler Daren with his grandparents. It was an happy time. His grandparents lived in a small village in the interior of Portugal. A place where even toddlers could play in the street, and where all the neighbors know each other. His grandparents loved him very much and he loved them as well. He used to say to his grand mother: "my mother is not hear so, you are my mother".

His parents missed him a lot. once his mother had a dream that he was dawning in the well his grandfather has in the back of the house. It was so real to her that she had to telephone to make sure he was well, and only after she heard him, she could relax. 

A year passed by, summer came as well as his parents came in vacations. Daren was well treated with his grandparents but they missed him so much that they take him with them to Switzerland. Was it a good idea? Maybe. Or maybe not. I guess we will never know.

In Switzerland life was completely different. They where living in a small room. At the time, is father was working in a restaurant and his mother doing cleanings. Daren was in a foreign country, not knowing the language, with no friends and with his parents working long hours. He was put in the kindergarten where he met different kids from around the world, many cultures that opened his mind and this was good for him but in the long run, not very good for his relationship with his parents.

Two or three years where passed, at the kindergarten, nannies and others, jumping from house to house with low stability. Just as an example, this room where they where living, a simple room... one bed, a stove and a community bathroom. not the ideal to raise a child. At one occasion, his mother left him alone at home,with 4/5 years old, to go to the grocery store in the mall not fare away. She delayed a little longer and young Daren went looking for her. A 4/5 years old kid, in the elevator of the mall looking for his mom, in a foreign country... and of course Daren was missing his grand parents and the country life where he could ride his tricycle and eat his grandmother´s food. Still he felt loved by his parents. Specially his father, but also his mother, although she suffered from chronic depression. 

Live improved for his parents. His father start to work for the public transportation company and his mother has an helper in a clinic. They where finally able to rent a decent apartment in a good neighborhood of Lausanne, not far from schools and from the park. There Daren met new friends, his neighbors. A big variety of them: Spanish, Italians, Germans, Danish. All older then him, but that didn´t meter...he had friends and was happy.

Then something happened that would change his life forever.