“It will be alright,” Pedro says, trying to calm him. “We’ll make it. My friend here will carry you and your cousin. I’ll help your aunt.”

“You promise?” Amandinha asks.

“When have I ever let you down?” Pedro says, giving her a comforting smile.

Pedro finally hands me both kids. They’re heavier than I thought they would be. Amandinha wraps her arms around my neck. The little boy wraps his legs around my waist. I hold them tightly, trying to find my footing. I take a few tentative steps back, steady, careful...

“Mainha!” Amandinha screams as we distance ourselves from the car.

“It will be alright,” the little boy echoes Pedro, reaching to stroke her hair. “She is right behind us.”

“What’s your name?” I ask the boy.

“Pedro,” he says in his tiny, scared voice.

“Pedro? That guy back there is named Pedro, too.”

The little boy smiles like only children do when they find someone else who shares their name, forming an instant bond.

I take one step at a time, flood water pushing heavily against my knees. Panic is still making me dizzy, but slowly, I make my way to the sidewalk. People see me approaching with the kids, and they run to help, taking them from me so I can catch my breath.

I turn on my heels, hoping to find Pedro and Amandinha’s mother not far behind me.

“Mainha is still in the car!” Amandinha shouts.

Far ahead, near the mouth of the tunnel, I see her mother attempt to get out of the car with her crutches. Pedro turns to carry her on his back. She clings to his neck, her legs held high to keep water from reaching her cast. He’s making progress, slowly carrying her to safety, when he suddenly trips over something underwater.

The kids and people on the sidewalk scream.

And just like that the woman and Pedro go crashing down under the water.

I don’t think twice. I jump back into the flooded avenue.

“Girl! Wait!” I hear a man’s voice calling out. I look over my shoulder to see him running after me, but he’s not alone. A long line of people have formed, holding hands to create a human chain. “Hold my hand!” the man shouts.

We grasp each other tightly, and slowly the chain of people stretches across the avenue. My eyes are glued to Pedro and the woman in the distance. He struggles to get back on his feet, while she clings to him, a streak of blood running from her chin down her neck. Pedro cries in agony, trying to keep them both propped up against the car.

“Help!” he shouts.

I push forward as fast as I can, an arm stretching toward them.

And then I can’t go on any farther.