Where Wings Grow

immense, trembling sheet of silver that didn't dare move, as if

by something invisible, had let go. Her hands trembled as they clung to the shore, sinking into the mixture

are days worth dressing in hope. But that white, once so pure, was now soundlessly stained, darkened by mud, by blood, b

, distant, broken by u

a neighbor, maybe a stranger. He was carrying a bundle clutched to h

u

ed to get up, run, scream, do something. But she couldn't. The sea

names like a frantic prayer, seeking to find meaning, some order,

11 while sobbing. Another took off a jacket and tried to cover her with it. They spoke to her, touch

e damp sea breeze. It was something that had broken deep within, an in

t through the air. A se

o

n unfinished sentence. The baby's crying stopped for a second. The

," someone whi

ho

irl. T

na

ns that shrieked in the distance. Sand in her mouth. Salt on her eyelashe

won't take anyth

of what was outside. A paramedic was speaking to her. He was saying her name. He was asking her to breathe. But Amelia couldn't hear him.

. The cold liquid entering her arm. An atte

, please. The baby is alive,

ooking for. It was another. One with a name. One she had

ands. A red, furious, newborn baby. It was cryi

he's breathing fine. She's not

s another girl. Another d

lia murmured, withou

. You have her

soul knew it. One second. Then another. And time began to m

Weeks

umsy colors, imperfect strokes, but full of meaning. Beside her, Tomás sle

ment inside her was a miracle. Every little kick, a promise of the f

warm bread in his hands and

ound

ooked up

ho

e's back. He's b

of those names that never quite dies. That live buri

ed. The air

you s

nd tightly. "But we're not going to let him get close. Not th

no one is prepared for the past. Much less for

o

present. Amelia opened her eyes. Her eyelids ached. Her l

s, large and scared, full of quest

your little

her body didn't respond. A

om

go find you, but they

her eyes. She wanted to hug hi

r little sister

shook

I saw her. She was

d called him. His face was tense, his eyes

oice. "It was a threat. But we managed

at him. Straig

it

t closed his eyes and nodded. And the na

ur

elia was able t

lights and mechanical sounds. Oblivious to the h

to the glass, as if it c

ss. Because you fell from the sky. Because you were born

ew. Something fierce. Like a force beginning to rise from

ld. Familiar. A w

you not to

uddenly. But no

reat. Of a past that

f the serva