I tried and tried, but she won’t open her eyes. She’s on the floor by the couch. Tears began sliding down the child’s round cheeks. I got scared. I remembered. She said, “If there’s ever an emergency, go find help.” So, I put on my coat and came outside, but everyone just walks past me. Jonathan’s mind raced. Years of executive decision-making kicking into focus. What’s your name, honey? Sophia.
Sophia Martinez. Okay, Sophia. I’m Jonathan. Can you show me where you live? Can you take me to your mom? The little girl nodded, reaching up to take his hand with a trust that made Jonathan’s chest tighten. Her small fingers were cold, even through her mittens. She led him down the street around a corner and into a neighborhood that grew progressively shabier.
The elegant storefronts gave way to older buildings, some with broken windows, others with sagging steps. They stopped in front of a narrow brownstone that had been divided into apartments. Sophia pulled a key on a string from inside her coat, her fingers fumbling with the lock. Jonathan helped her, his hands steady despite the fear coursing through him.
They climbed two flights of stairs, the wallpaper peeling, the carpet thread bare. Sophia’s apartment was tiny, maybe 500 square ft total, but it was clean, Jonathan noticed, decorated with obvious care. Children’s drawings covered one wall held up with colorful tape. A small Christmas tree sat in the corner. Handmade ornaments hanging from its branches.
And there, just as Sophia had said, a woman lay motionless on the floor beside the couch. Jonathan rushed to her side, his fingers finding her neck, searching for a pulse. It was there, faint but steady. The woman was young, maybe 30, with light brown hair pulled back in a braid. Even unconscious, Jonathan could see the delicate features.
The exhaustion etched into her face. Her skin was pale, too pale. And when he touched her forehead, it burned with fever. “Sophia, I need to call for help.” Okay. Jonathan pulled out his phone, dialing 911 with shaking fingers. As he relayed the address to the dispatcher, he noticed the details of the room.
