DAWN
The sky was grey when they reached the market. No traders yet. Only quiet stalls and sleeping dogs. Boma held the small key tight. `Back door,` Mama T had said. Amara found it behind a wall of sacks. The lock was old and rusted. The key turned with a sound like a sigh. Inside, the room was full of dust and boxes. Papers everywhere. Amina’s breath caught. `So many.` Zahra’s hands shook. `Where do we start?` Boma lit a small lamp. `Look for names. Look for dates.` They moved fast. Zainab pulled out a box. `This one says two years.` Zahra opened it. Inside were thin books and old cards. Her eyes moved fast over each line. Then she stopped. A card with a name. A date. Two months old. `Here,` she said soft. Amina came close. The card read: `Baby Girl. Mother: Amina. Taken by new famil
- Writer
