“ Girls , come back by sunset , or else the rebels are going to take you ,” warned Mrs . Kamara .
Zainab and Alia ran out to the fields . They had not gone out in many days , rain had been pouring down non-stop , flooding much of the Tefeya fields . People rejoiced as fruit would finally begin to grow , but children were saddened by the darkness .
“ Alia , let ’ s go find some pebbles and play Oware .” They headed down to the river and carried two large handfuls of pebbles back to the field . The game required two rows of six holes , so the girls began digging holes in the earth . The deposited soil created a small hill . “ Look at that ant ! She can ’ t climb up the hill !” Alia laughed . “ Where ? No , look at that one , she ’ s digging a tunnel !” “ How do you know she ’ s a girl ?” “ I don ’ t know , Alia , she just looks like a girl .” They giggled and continued their little ant talk . Zainab and Alia had a special bond , one that was rare in the orphanage . Despite their ill fates , the girls lived like normal children when they were together . “ Wait , Alia , look there ,” Zainab pointed at the bottom of the hill , “ why ’ s the soil shining ?” She scooped the soil into her hands . The sparkling rock revealed itself . “ E ! A diamond ! A diamond !” Alia exclaimed . “ Hush ! People are going to hear you .” “ Someone must have buried it here .” “ I doubt it , who would give up such a precious stone ?” “ Zainab , let ’ s sell it when we are fifteen and go to France ! I heard that in France , you can see flowers blooming everywhere , people dancing under the Eiffel Tower , bikes , food ! Bonjour , je m ’ appelle
Alia !”
It was just another day at the orphanage , the children finished school in the morning and were doing chores in the afternoon . Zainab helped set up the outdoor fire for cooking and Alia went out to pick fruits .
Zainab stared at the scintillating fire . Sweat trickled down her face and into her frizzy sideburns . France , she thought , what would I do there ? Would I have a home there ? Mrs . Kamara said one time that she would send us to the United States of America . What is it like there ? It must be very far away , we would probably have to walk for a year ! Would I get a family there ? Suddenly , Mrs . Kamara came running towards the orphanage , screaming “ It ’ s bad ! It ’ s bad !” Zainab followed her immediately . When she got there , Mr . Kamara came bursting out of the door . Chaos was not unusual at Mercy Children ’ s Orphanage , so she simply stood at the side , waiting to see what had happened .
Moments later , Mr . Kamara walked in with a girl in his arms . Her hand had been cut off and blood flowed down her arm like a waterfall , leaving a red trail on the floor . No , it couldn ’ t be Alia , she told herself . The girl screamed and cried , gasping for air in between , “ I was just … holding … the fruit they … wanted , I was going to … give it … to them …”
“ Shh , Alia , a doctor is going to come soon , hold on .” Flaming hot tears instantly gushed out of Zainab ’ s eyes and rolled down her cheeks as she ran towards her crippling friend .
Doctors in Sierra Leone were often poorly trained . Even though the doctor stopped the bleeding , he informed them that she would likely get an infection . That night , Zainab ’ s heart ached knowing that her friend would not make it . All she wanted to do was to give Alia a last embrace , a last word . She sneaked into the isolated room where Alia stayed . “ Alia ! Are you awake ?” she whispered . “ Do you really think I could fall asleep with such pain ? Come here Zainab ,” Alia whispered back . Zainab climbed into her bed and laid beside her . Her skin burned against Zainab ’ s . “ When this is over , I will wake up on a grassland in France , looking up at the star-filled sky , I will name all of them , I will name one Zainab , I will name one Alia , one Papa , one Mama . Zainab ?” “ Yeah ?” “ Do you miss your family ?” “ I think about my father everyday … He is tall and always smiled at me . When you see him one day , you will definitely agree with me .” “ I wish I could remember how mine looked like .” “ I also used to play with my brother sometimes , but now he is gone and I don ’ t know where he is .” “ Don ’ t worry , I ’ m sure you ’ ll find him one day .” “ Oh Allah , please give us bravery to face a new day .”