A Cuban content creator living in Spain broke down in tears as she read aloud a letter from her mother in Cuba, sharing a deeply personal message that resonates with the silent pain of countless Cuban families.
Dei Flaki Flow, who has been residing outside of Cuba for three years, shared the video on June 4 with the caption "It's been 3 years since I left Cuba" and dedicated it to "all the Cuban mothers who are away from their children."
The letter opens with a poignant image: "My dear daughter, today I woke up looking at your picture, the one I keep next to the Virgin and the most precious things in my life. I wiped it with the edge of my apron as if I could also erase the distance between us."
The mother paints a picture of a home altered by absence: "The house hasn't sounded the same since you left. Your room still holds a trace of you. Sometimes I go in just to feel like you're still here."
One of the letter's most striking passages challenges the common narrative about Cuban emigration: "Many believe children leave to seek a better life for themselves. But I know the truth: you left thinking of us. You left so there would be food on the table, so the family could keep going."
The mother acknowledges the burdens her daughter carried alone: "I watched you leave with a suitcase full of dreams and a heart laden with responsibilities that should never have been so heavy on such young shoulders."
She reframes her daughter's journey, not as that of an emigrant, but as a courageous act: "Though the world may see you as an emigrant, I see you as brave."
The most moving part for viewers was the mother's absolution of any debt: "You owe me nothing, daughter. Not a dollar. Not a package. Not a recharge. No more sacrifices."
Dei Flaki Flow couldn't finish reading without breaking down. "It's impossible," she repeated several times on camera, as her followers shared their own stories of separation in the comments.
The letter concludes with a truth many Cuban mothers will recognize: "Remember that in this little house in Cuba, there is a mother who prays to God for you every night. Because children may emigrate, but to a mother, they never truly leave. With all my heart, mom."
This video comes amidst the largest wave of migration in post-revolutionary Cuban history: between 2021 and 2025, over a million Cubans have left the island, driven by economic crisis, chronic power outages, shortages, and political repression.
It is estimated that 38% of Cuban families have at least one member living abroad, with separations typically lasting between two and four years, and some documented cases extending up to six years.
This collective pain has found an outlet on social media. This week, a Cuban mother reunited with her children in Serbia after four years apart, another video that has touched thousands recently.
As she ended her video, Dei Flaki Flow encapsulated what her mother's letter expressed in full pages: "Distance separates bodies, but never the love between a mother and daughter."
Cuban Family Separation and Migration
Why are so many Cubans leaving the island?
Many Cubans are leaving due to the severe economic crisis, frequent power outages, scarcity of resources, and political repression that have plagued the country, especially in recent years.
How do Cuban families cope with long separations?
Cuban families often rely on social media and other digital platforms to stay connected and share their experiences, turning these into spaces of emotional support and catharsis.
What is the impact on Cuban families when a member emigrates?
The emigration of a family member often leads to emotional strain and prolonged separations, which can last from two to six years, affecting family dynamics and emotional well-being.