Chapter 39

Wala sa sariling naglakad si Erika patungo sa maliit na open space ng school nila. Walang kahit na anong makikita roon bukod sa mga iilang mga puno. Bigla niyang naalala ang unang pagpunta niya sa lugar na ito noong nakaraang taon. A child from the orphanage climbed up this tree to pick mangoes and handed one to her.

Ngunit agad na nawala ang ngiting iyon sa labi ng bata at napalitan ng iyak habang sumisigaw kung gaano nito kaayaw umalis sa orphanage. Ang tanging nagawa na lamang ng dean noon ay patahanin ang bata.

The director who took over the orphanage also grew up here. Erika often helped the children and became familiar with them over and over again. Separated by a wall, the children in the kindergarten here are enjoying air conditioning and eating snacks in a room with excellent conditions, while the abandoned children over there are crying so hard that even this small home will soon be unable to be saved.

Sa tuwing naaalala niya ang katotohanang ito ay hindi mapigilang maging