--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I broke down. I hid under the bed because…" description: "\"I broke down. I hid under the bed because I was afraid that somebody was going to come for me. I don’t know who that someone was but I was just so scar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/diane-guerrero-3891_bed_i-broke-down-i-hid-under-the-bed-because_1526775.jpg" --- # I broke down. I hid under the bed because I was afraid… ![“I broke down. I hid under the bed because I was afraid that somebody was going to come for me. I don’t know who that someone was but I was just so scared. Not a single person at any level of government took any note of me. No one checked to see if I had a place to live or food to eat, and at 14, I…” quote by Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/diane-guerrero-3891_bed_i-broke-down-i-hid-under-the-bed-because_1526775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/diane-guerrero-3891_bed_i-broke-down-i-hid-under-the-bed-because_1526775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/diane-guerrero-3891_bed_i-broke-down-i-hid-under-the-bed-because_1526775.jpg) > “I broke down. I hid under the bed because I was afraid that somebody was going to come for me. I don’t know who that someone was but I was just so scared. Not a single person at any level of government took any note of me. No one checked to see if I had a place to live or food to eat, and at 14, I found myself basically on my own.” [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child feels abandoned by authorities, left to survive alone despite extreme fear and need for basic care. **In simple terms:** A scared teen was ignored by officials and forced to fend for herself. Key Takeaway Advocate for vulnerable youth and ensure safety nets. Themes neglect fear survival youth government responsibility Mood despair hopeful urgent Type testimonial advocacy social commentary When to use this quote - homelessness - social services - school counseling - community outreach - policy reform Key Concepts human rights social safety child welfare Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better identify and protect at‑risk children? - What policies could prevent such abandonment? 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Really!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-carter/i-never-hang-my-feet-off-the-end-of-the-bed-i-m-afraid-little/) [Nick Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-carter/) > [“I'm afraid to. Claire moves the pillow to her side of the bed. "Afraid to do what?" To sleep. 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I was always afraid that if somebody caught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reubens/i-was-always-in-disguise-i-d-wear-masks-or-weird-get-ups-so-you/) [Paul Reubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reubens/) > [“Some of the biggest men in the United States, in the field of commerce and manufacture, are afraid of somebody, are afraid of something.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/some-of-the-biggest-men-in-the-united-states-in-the-field-of-commerce/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“I didn't want to be left alone with Timothy, not because I was afraid of him but because I was afraid that somebody would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-didn-t-want-to-be-left-alone-with-timothy-not-because-i-was-afraid/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [I'm not really afraid of somebody who's very politically vocal. My mother is very strong, and I really believe in freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-haun/i-m-not-really-afraid-of-somebody-who-s-very-politically-vocal-my/) [Lindsey Haun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-haun/) > [It isn't just a village. The houses aren't just places to live. Everything belongs to everybody. Everyone belongs to everyone else. Even a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/it-isn-t-just-a-village-the-houses-aren-t-just-places-to-live/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [No one checked to see if I had a place to live or food to eat, and at 14, I found myself basically on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/no-one-checked-to-see-if-i-had-a-place-to-live-or-food-to-eat-and-at/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [The past is so reliable, so delightful and the best place to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/the-past-is-so-reliable-so-delightful-and-the-best-place-to-live/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [McKinney, Texas is the number one place to live in the country. It's certainly the number place to live in Texas according to Forbes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldo-rivera/mckinney-texas-is-the-number-one-place-to-live-in-the-country-it-s/) [Geraldo Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldo-rivera/) > [He is a great enough magician to tap our most common nightmares, daydreams and twilight fancies, but he never invented them either: he found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/he-is-a-great-enough-magician-to-tap-our-most-common-nightmares/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Portland is a pretty magnificent place to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leni-zumas/portland-is-a-pretty-magnificent-place-to-live/) [Leni Zumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leni-zumas/) ## More by Diane Guerrero > [I so desperately wanted to fit in. There was a trajectory, and obviously, our society tells us that you go to high school, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-so-desperately-wanted-to-fit-in-there-was-a-trajectory-and/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I worked a variety of jobs in retail and at coffee shops all through high school. And, though I was surrounded by people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-worked-a-variety-of-jobs-in-retail-and-at-coffee-shops-all-through/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I've experienced colorism in that way: where if you're lighter, then you'll potentially be accepted into society better than if you were darker-skinned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-ve-experienced-colorism-in-that-way-where-if-you-re-lighter-then/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [Once I started advancing in my career, I stopped wanting to hide from my reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/once-i-started-advancing-in-my-career-i-stopped-wanting-to-hide-from/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [Since when is it good to separate a family?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/since-when-is-it-good-to-separate-a-family/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [Every day, children who are U.S. citizens are separated from their families as a result of immigration policies that need fixing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/every-day-children-who-are-u-s-citizens-are-separated-from-their/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I think despite what we've seen on TV, people like seeing women and knowing about women's stories and their struggles and their truth. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-think-despite-what-we-ve-seen-on-tv-people-like-seeing-women-and/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [People like seeing people being human and real, and I think that's been lacking on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/people-like-seeing-people-being-human-and-real-and-i-think-that-s/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [My parents have always been very honest with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/my-parents-have-always-been-very-honest-with-me/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I feel like you can't really be truthful as an artist and empathize with the human experience, unless you know your truth and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-feel-like-you-can-t-really-be-truthful-as-an-artist-and-empathize/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [While awaiting deportation proceedings, my parents remained in detention near Boston, so I could visit them. They would have liked to fight deportation, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/while-awaiting-deportation-proceedings-my-parents-remained-in/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I want to be viewed like a serious actress, and I'm afraid that people are just going to see me as the poor little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-want-to-be-viewed-like-a-serious-actress-and-i-m-afraid-that-people/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I went through depression, which is something that we don't often talk about when we look at undocumented communities and deported families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-went-through-depression-which-is-something-that-we-don-t-often-talk/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [I don't know why I was lucky enough to have people in my community take me in. To be able to continue school. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-don-t-know-why-i-was-lucky-enough-to-have-people-in-my-community/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) [Explore all 120 Diane Guerrero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I broke down. 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