Chapter 12
My head felt like it was about to explode.
Reason and emotion were locked in a fierce battle, while the clubdren sdently watched mir hested argument.
Despair filled their eyes. The youngest huddled together, their small halsely clasped, as it awaiting the final verdict of Este
My heart softened in an inSUATË,
They had already fought with all their might to escape hell–we couldn’t seem lack
1took a deep breath, Boring myself to calm down, and said quietly
Till help you.
But I won’t just find someone to take them. Fill stay here and see them all safry out myself”
Joseph froze, then immediately shook his head.
Na. It’s too dangerous
I stared back at him, my tone resolute,
“And what leave you to face the danger alone?
If you don’t agree. I’ll go out there right now and tell them you’re hiding Hur children here.”
He grated his teeth and glared at me.
You! I should never have come to you!”
“Too late.” I shrugged. “You’ve already dragged me into this”
Joseph turned away angrily, refusing to speak to me. I sighed, stepped closer, and wrapped my arms around his neck, forcing him to look at me.
“At the very least, in the worst–case scenario, we can die together.”
He immediately burst out, furious,
“Don’t jinai That’s not going to happen!”
Through the clear visor of his protective suit, I gently touched his face.
“Of course nol
After all, you promised me we still have to go see my mom.
1 had to admit. Joseph’s plan was almost flawless
Nobody would want to touch the garbage bins containing Ebola medical waste, much less suspect they held people inside.
Each trap, we could smuggle out two children. The truck would stop midway, where humanitarian workers would take over and transfer them to
Wfter half a month, only the last two children remained–a brother and sister.
The boy was named Ray, and his sister, Mary,
On the day the truck was to take them away, Joseph was in high spirits. He looked at me and said sincerely,
“Thank you. Zoey.”
I didn’t respond. I just held his hand tightly.
Chapter 12
Victory seemed so close we could almost taste it. We even celebrated rady.
The children performed tgambila, a traditional Huru dance, for us Joseph purrared pictures of them
As right fell, the siblings began putting on their protective suits.
Mary handed me a marker and asked softly,
“Can yon vorite your names on them?
Joseph and I exchanged a glance, surprised, but ver obliged.
1 thought for a moment and added beneath my name!
I hope you grow up well”
Joseph wrote
hope you reunite with your family.”
I followed with
“Thope the war ends soon.
He added
“Thope we meet again in the future.”
eal that could almost be radi
We covered their protective suits with blessings, and by the time we finished, everyone was in tears.
The siblimes threw their arms around us, their muffled voices coming from inside their suits;
“We’ll remember you forever and ever!
Thank you! You’re our heroes!”
at the center as scheduled.
Late that night, the transport truck arrived at the o
As usual, we placed the children into the garbage bins and loaded them onto the truck
But just as everything was finally done, the sound of gunfire suddenly erupted from the center’s main hall.
Joseph and I froze, our faces tense, and immediately dashed toward the commotion
Armed militants had stormed into the center, claiming they’d received imel that Hutu children were being hidden here.
Joseph stepped forward calmly, maintaining his composure as he cooperated with their search.
1 followed closely behind, watching as they kicked open doors and rummaged through every corner of t barely breathe.
the rooths, my nerves wound so tight could
They tore through the place but found nothing. Frustrated, they hurled a few threats at us and prepared to leave.
Just as the last of them was about to step outside, a shout came from the door, someone yelled, “I saw the truck that just lefr
The militants erupted into curses and stormed out in a frenzy.
The last man to leave suddenly stopped in his tracks. Letting out an angry roar he yanked a grenade from his belt and hurled it into the center of the hall
In that moment,
seemed to slow to a crawl
I could see the grenade arcing downward in a languid trajectory.
I could see the terror etched on the faces of the other doctors
TIKA KAWan Haan Pluman
Chapter 12
I could see Joseph’s expression harden with a salee as he launched himself Fogard me
In the split second before the explosion, he dove onto me, pressing me to the ground and shielding me with his body.
His hands clamped ovet my ears, as if determined to block out all sounds of fear and chans.
Chapter 13
