“I only held on,” she told the volunteers repeatedly. “My child is the one who kept us alive.”
With time, the twins regained healthy color. With time, Alina’s feet healed. With time, their new home became filled with warmth instead of silence. Teachers helped Alina catch up on lessons. The community ensured Delfina had proper care. Their lives began to resemble something they had once thought impossible.
. . .
Five years later, Alina stood in a small community center in Ridgeford Vale. Her twin brothers ran across the lawn outside. Delfina helped organize donated supplies. Alina, now twelve, was interviewed by a local journalist creating a series about remarkable acts of courage among ordinary families.
“What were you thinking during that long walk?” the journalist asked.
Alina considered this for a long time. “I was scared,” she admitted. “But I kept going. I kept thinking that if I stopped, my brothers might never wake up again. I knew the hospital would help. So I just walked. And I told myself not to look back.”
Her words settled into the room with quiet weight.
