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protect yourself from the cold but from the ominous sounds of the outside. Do
you remember those nights? I do.

Do you remember that many times, mom came to your room to comfort you?
She came because you cried loudly and desperately, as if your soul was taken away
from your body. Mom came almost every night during the summer, especially on
the cold nights, to check on you. Do you remember why you would cry? It was
because of the loud noises outside your window. Mom consoled you. She told

you that it was nothing to fear; it was the song of the cicadas. Las cicadas no te
oueoea hacerdano milo, she said to you. No hay nada que temer.

The cicadas would sing every single summer night since you have memory.
But do you remember the night that the cicadas went silent? That was the night
I came knocking at your window. You thought it was a nightmare, but I was really
there, standing at the other side of the window. That night was cold, do you
remember that? I do. I wanted to come inside but you wouldn't let me. I was
cold. Do you remember that? I do. I asked you if I could come in, but instead you
screamed and went under your blanket. Your mom came to the room, sprinting,
asking why you had screamed so loudly. You told her about the tigure outside, and
how I had talked to you. She said it was a nightmare. You believed it was a night-
mare. I was no nightmare.

It's been years since that night. You are an adult now. You live alone, in the
city. You live away from the spookiness and eeriness of the tields. But from time to
time, you still hear the cicadas sing during the short summer nights. And from time
to time, I still knock on your window, asking you to let me in because I am cold. Do
you remember that? I do.