After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 41

I resumed my work as a doctor.

Three years later, the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo was even worse than before.

The areas controlled by armed groups had expanded to an unprecedented scale.

There was a food crisis, cholera outbreaks, sexual violence, and an endless stream of kidnappings.

It felt as though this place had become a "land abandoned by God."

Every day, witnessing the hellish reality around me, I couldn't help but wonder whether, for Doctors Without Borders, their treatment was extending hope or merely prolonging suffering.

A few months later, Adam told me he had found five of the children from that group.

Among them were Ray and Mary.

They had successfully escaped that day.

They later got in touch with their relatives and were now living with family members in Kisangani.

This news was a breath of fresh air.

I rushed to meet them.

The moment the car arrived at the meeting point, Mary rushed out.

She threw herself into my arms, eyes brimming with tears.

"Zoey!! You finally came!"

She had grown much taller and had blossomed into a young woman.

Looking anxiously into the car, she asked,

"Where's Doctor Joseph? Why didn't he come with you?"

I hesitated, then said, "He's too busy."

immediately tightened her fingers.

are especially sensitive

my

fine. I'll

flipped through my phone, but found I didn't have any

couldn't bear to look at them, I had stored them all away in my computer when I

the very end

a white coat, reading medical records under the warm glow

looked strikingly

and her face lit

for joy, then pulled her brother

want to be

children chimed

"I want to too!"

want to

asked the boy who had remained

do you

glanced at the camera hanging

want to

I was taken aback.

the world to see the

they can be seen, maybe

tears as I gathered them all into

Joseph were still here, he would be so happy, wouldn't

my compact camera to Ray and left

with Mary and the

flushed

still hoped to lift up a bright

like Joseph

is hope, there is a

Months passed.

for Joseph's body yielded no

the forest

since it was night, I had no idea which direction

I had no choice but to give