| Spanish | English | |---------|---------| | el escondite | the hiding place | | el doble fondo | the false bottom | | el miedo | fear | | aguantar la respiración | to hold one’s breath | | los pasos | the footsteps | | los soldados | the soldiers |
Will the neighbor return with soldiers? Can Emilia keep the secret from her schoolmates, especially those whose parents are Falangists? And how long can a man survive hidden in a space meant for bolts of fabric, not for breathing?
Emilia watches as her father reveals a secret compartment hidden behind the large sewing table in the tailor shop. The space is small, dark, and suffocating—barely large enough for a man to lie down. This is where her father will now hide during the nights and whenever the authorities return.