Healing Dawn

Valentina awoke with a start, her screams piercing the pre-dawn silence. “No, Mom! Please don’t go!” she shrieked, her voice hoarse and desperate. Her small frame was soaked in sweat, and her sheets tangled around her like a web.

In the adjacent room, Emilio shot up in bed, instantly awake. “Valentina!” he gasped, dashing to his daughter’s room with Evelyn close behind. They burst through the door to find Valentina sitting upright, her eyes wide with terror.

“Sweetheart, it’s okay, it’s just a dream,” Emilio said, his voice trembling as he tried to calm her.

Valentina’s eyes darted around the room before locking onto Evelyn. With a sudden burst of energy, she leaped from her bed and clung to Evelyn, sobbing uncontrollably. “Don’t die, please don’t die! I’ll be good, I promise! Just don’t leave me!” she begged, her voice a fragile whisper between sobs.

Evelyn knelt down, wrapping her arms around the trembling girl. “I’m not going anywhere, Valentina. I’m right here,” she whisper