Valentin

According to Valentín's grandmother everyone has mental problems. (0:05)

Valentín tells us how when he wonders about his mother he will often "imagine that if I count to 1000 she'll ring the doorbell." (0:06)

Valentín's uncle Silvito tells him in church, "If you kill yourself, you don't go to heaven." (0:23)

His friend Rufo tell Valentín his own mother died when he was 15 years old. (1:00)

Rufito learns in a phone call that Valentín's grandmother has died. Though he appeared to be sleeping Valentín tells him he heard. (1:11)

The emotional fallout of his parents' marital dysfunction and abandonment of him: What helps Valentin seem to compensate so well? Certainly his friendships, especially with Rufo, must help.

Bereavement | magical thinking | suicide