The social worker said, “Move to a shelter for people who are homeless and has HIV and AIDS, or we’ll take your daughter away.”

Marlen and her mother didn’t want to move to the shelter.

“We were really scared,” says Marlen. “We didn’t know anything about AIDS. Mom thought I’d catch it too if we lived with other people who were HIV-positive. Now we’ve stayed here for a few years. I like it here, and I’ve learned a lot about the illness like you can survive for a long time if you take medicine and look after yourself.”

Marlen was born in Mexico but she came to the US when she was two weeks old.“The person I call mom is actually my aunt. I’ve never met my dad, and my biological mom couldn’t care for me. She drank a lot and ended up in prison. My Aunt Angelina brought me to America to give me a better chance in life. I call her mom because she has always taken care of me like a mother.”

Worry about mom

“When I was young, we lived with my stepfather. I liked him a lot. Then they split up, and mom met a new man who used to beat her. Once my stepfather came back to see me, but the man refused to let him in. I saw my stepfather through the window, and I cried, shouted, and banged on the window, but he didn’t hear me, and he never came back. The man just got worse. He beat and threatened my mom. Finally, the police came and took him away. Then mom found out that she had been infected with HIV.”

Marlen’s mother’s health isn’t bad, but sometimes she has to be admitted to the hospital. “I get really worried then,” says Marlen. There are three other kids at the shelter, but they are younger. “I had a friend who was my age but she moved to another shelter. We were best friends, and we could talk about anything. I miss her.” Marlen can’t tell anyone where she lives because there is still so much prejudice surrounding AIDS.

One of Marlen’s schoolmates once found out where she lived. “She told everybody at school that I lived at an AIDS shelter and that everyone should stay away from me. ‘Don’t talk to Marlen,’ she used to say. ‘Don’t let her sit with us. She might give AIDS to you and your family.’ I complained to the principal and in the end, I threatened to call the police on her. She got scared and stopped.

Marlen, 13

Lives: At a shelter for people with HIV and AIDS.
Likes: Skateboarding, music, drawing, school.
Doesn’t like: Mean people.
Sad: When my mom is ill.
Loves: Mom.
Wants to be: A nurse or a doctor.
Would like: A little dog but unfortunately the shelter doesn’t allow pets.

Marlene’s wardrobe!