Chapter 19

SYLVIA

Rhonda Labat, the head of the orphanage met us in her tiny office. She was a friendly, motherly woman in her late fifties. She greeted us warmly and asked if we wanted to take a walk through the rooms to meet the children. I agreed readily, eager to see them.

“This is the first time in years we had such an influx of little ones. There are fifteen girls and eight boys, currently. The youngest is a little girl of three. She was found in the woods near the Belgium border. The eldest is a boy of eleven.”

“Could we see the little girl?” I asked. “If it’s alright, I mean.”

“Yes, of course. Pretty little thing. Doesn’t speak much.” We followed her through the corridors, noticing curious little faces peeking around doors at us.

I smiled at them and they giggled and ran back into the room. A little boy of about five ran out, yelling at the top of his lungs, followed b