Aunt of missing 12-y-o clings to hope

As Hurricane Melissa lashed western Jamaica last week, one tormenting question gripped Annmarie Thompson: how was her missing nephew Jayden Smith weathering the storm?

Thompson is the primary caregiver of the missing 12-year-old, who was last seen in Mandeville, Manchester, on September 26. Since then, Thompson said the family has been living in limbo, between fear and hope, with no clear answers. The hurricane's arrival only deepened their anxiety.

"I don't even know how he managed Melissa without us," she told THE WEEKEND STAR. "At night, I wonder if he's cold, if he's getting wet, if he's hungry. Every time the rain starts, all of that keeps going through my mind."

Recently, Thompson said she dreamt that she was driving in the rain and saw Jayden stooping.

"I called to my husband and we both jumped out the car and grabbed him," she said. The dream, she said, reflected the emotional pressure the family has been facing as rumours and accusations swirl in the community. Thompson said the family has also faced hostility from members of the public.

"We still nuh over Jayden. The house is empty. Everybody is not the same from the 26th of September," said Thompson. Despite several checks with the police, as recently as Monday, she said there have been no updates. Thompson said that the family simply wants confirmation of Jayden's safety.

"Even if it's a case that he doesn't want to come back here, we just want to know he's found and alive."

Thompson said she has experienced significant personal loss over the years, including three sisters.

"When I visited my sister in the hospital, I knew she was gone because I could feel it. But inside of me I'm not feeling that when it comes to Jayden," she said.

Thompson said that she and Jayden, who is her twin brother's son, had a close bond. His birthday, November 23, is approaching, and the family had planned to take him out to celebrate. The weeks since his disappearance have taken a toll on her well-being.

"I have panic attacks whenever I am to go anywhere. I'm scared to travel on the road. I'm scared of leaving my home," she said. But she clings to the belief that has carried her through the past weeks: "I still believe he's alive."