I nodded. “I shall.”

“Thank you.” She smiled gratefully.

My guilt grew, seeming to swallow me whole. “I’m so sorry.” My voice cracked and I nearly blurted out the awful truth. Then I caught myself. “I wish there was more I could do.”

“You’re doing everything you can. I begged my mother not to leave the sewer. If only she had listened.”

“Sadie, no! That would not have been possible. If she had stayed, the baby’s cries would have alerted someone and you would have all been found by now. She left to protect you.”

“She’s gone, isn’t she?” I didn’t answer, but put my arms around her. Her face was a hollow mask, as if some part of her knew the truth without my saying it. “I have no one.”

“Don’t say that! You have me.” The words felt hollow. “I know it isn’t much, and it doesn’t make up for your mother not being here, or how much you miss her and the rest of your family. But I’m here.” She did not respond. “Sadie, look at me.” I took both of her hands in mine. “This isn’t forever. I swear, I will get you out of the sewer again.” How I could make such a promise, I did not know. But I was clutching at straws, anything to give her the will to press on another day.

“You don’t have to go,” I said, in spite of myself. I had no idea where I would hide her if she didn’t. “I mean, if you don’t want to go back. We could leave the city tonight, find a way.” For a moment, I saw it, the two of us away from here and free.

“I have to,” she said. “There are others.” Even though her mother and sister were gone, she would not abandon Saul and his family.

Still, she did not go. “It’s just really hard down here. The only reason I managed was because of my mother. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to do it without her.” Sadie’s voice broke. “I can’t do this alone.”

“You don’t have to. Just keep coming to see me, all right? And I will come here and bring whatever I can and we will string together these awful days until the war is over.” I tried to make my voice sound positive and sure.

“All right,” she said, but I couldn’t tell whether she really believed me or was just too sad and weary to argue. She lowered herself into the sewer. I tried to stand in front of her, to block her from view of anyone who might pass by and see the unusual sight.

“I’ll be here tomorrow, okay?” I said. “And the day after that. I will come every day. You just have to get up in the morning and come see me.” I had no idea how I would manage it. Getting away from Ana Lucia’s prying eyes to this remote part of the city once a week was hard enough. But Sadie needed something, anything, to keep her going.