Adora stood in the middle of the field with a calm expression but her eyes held hurt. Rani stood beside her, silent and clutching the hem of her own shirt restlessly. In front of them, Mira's body, already wrapped in a shabby cloth, lay on a simple wooden stretcher. Several people stood around, some looking down, some staring with blank faces almost numbed by long-suffering.
"She was a good girl," murmured an old woman from the back row. "Always shares when she has more."
Not long after, Eric stepped forward. He wore a worn-out jacket, the knees of his pants were torn, and his face was flushed with pent-up anger. His eyes did not leave Mira's lifeless body.
"If only we hadn't been late getting clean water yesterday..." his voice began to tremble. "If only we could have cleaned Mira's wo
