She asked to see her daughter before she died… and what the girl whispered to her changed her fate forever.

I didn’t return birthdays.

Not even the teeth of milk that fell without a mother.
Not even the nightmares of Salome under the roof of an aunt who bought the silence with sweets.

Not even the nights of Ramira talking alone in a cell so as not to forget the tone of her daughter’s voice.

Freedom does not cure.

It only restores the right to try to heal.

Colonel Mendez watched the scene from a few steps back.

This time he did not wear his gala uniform or his usual impassive expression. It just looked old. Very old. When Ramira stood up with Salome still clinging to her waist, he approached.

I didn’t know how to start.

That was already strange in a man like him.

“Mady Sources,” she said finally.

Ramira looked at him.

For years he dreamed of hating him.

And part of it still hated him.

Because it was not enough that I had finally corrected something. He had also been part of the machine that almost killed her.

Mendez barely lowered his head.

I don’t expect forgiveness. I just wanted to tell you I should have hesitated earlier.

Ramira held her gaze.