Lucia’s parents, Diego Alvarez and Isabella Alvarez, arrived separately—Diego from his job at the local market, exhausted and pale, Isabella cradling a blanket over her shoulders. They were met with the sight of their daughter lying on a stretcher, eyes wide with both fear and relief.
“This isn’t your fault,” Dr. Lin reassured them. “The problem wasn’t anything you did. The water in your apartment was contaminated. That’s what made Lucia sick, and now she’s getting the right treatment.”
Diego exhaled, relief and guilt colliding. “So… nobody thinks this is my fault?” he asked, voice breaking.
“Not at all,” Officer Javier Ortega, who had accompanied the paramedics, confirmed. “Lucia’s courage helped us uncover what was really happening in these buildings. If anything, your daughter is a hero.”
Tears welled in Isabella’s eyes. “A hero… my little girl?”
“Yes,” Dr. Lin said softly. “Because of her, we can help other families who were living in the same conditions.”