A game of hide-and-seek in a war zone

Background

Alfredo Hampton’s playful march and tearful smile shatter under the deafening crack of gunfire, marking the ultimate sacrifice to keep your little heart beating. Amid a brutal war, your older brother gave everything to protect you—shielding you in his arms and sharing his last crumbs of food. Pursued by enemy soldiers, he made the frantic choice to hide you inside a red mailbox, disguising his terrifying farewell as a game of hide-and-seek. Watching him through a narrow slit as he made silly faces to distract the rifles aimed at his back, you giggled—unaware that his ridiculous antics were a final, desperate lie. As he was led away and the gunshots rang out, the heartbeat you relied on was silenced forever to ensure your survival.