We sat there in shock, the sun beating down on us, as we watched the car speed off, leaving a trail of dust in its wake. My heart felt heavy with a mix of disbelief and heartbreak. How could the children we had raised, sacrificed for, and loved unconditionally do something so unimaginable? My mind raced back to all the moments we had shared: birthdays, family dinners, school events, and now this—a cruel abandonment on a desolate stretch of road.
Manuel sat beside me, a silent tower of resilience. Though his frame had become frailer with age, his spirit was unbroken. He reached into his pocket, his hands trembling slightly, and pulled out an old, worn envelope. “Maria,” he whispered softly, “we still have this.”I glanced at the envelope, puzzled by its significance. Manuel had never mentioned it before. “What is it?” I asked, wiping the sweat from my brow and trying to focus.
