“
Samira had been walking for hours. It was almost dawn—that strange time when it’s still dark but the birds wake up and the forest comes to life with the scuttling of little animals. The air was sharp and cool, and dew glistened on the grass. Any minute now, the sun would peek up over the horizon, turning the blue-gray sky orange. And Samira would be too late. She was weary, but hope, fear, worry kept her moving.
”
”