• Chapter 16

  • 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?”

  • 09:25

  • The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights

  • 59.8%

  • Chapter 16

  • said, “He’s too

  • tightened her fingers. “…Has something happened

  • are especially sensitive to

  • shook my head reassuringly.

  • he’s fine. I’ll show you.”

  • but found I didn’t have any pictures of

  • them, I had stored them

  • home.

  • the very end and found

  • records

  • similar

  • the picture, and her face

  • for joy, then pulled her

  • be

  • children chimed in,

  • want to too!”

  • want to

  • gently patted their heads and asked

  • What do you want to do in the future?”

  • on my chest,

  • to be a journalist.”

  • 60.0%

  • Chapter 16

  • taken

  • world to see the people who

  • can be seen, maybe someone will reach out to help…”

  • as I gathered them all

  • would be so happy, wouldn’t

  • gave my compact camera to Ray and

  • other children.

  • cheeks flushed with excitement.

  • still hoped

  • scars.

  • like Joseph once

  • there is hope, there is a future.”

  • Months passed.

  • Joseph’s body yielded no results.

  • visited the forest countless

  • it was night, I had no

  • no choice but

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