She said to me, “Brigid? This can’t be you.”
I reached out to embrace Sabeena, the woman who had saved my life. But I didn’t make it.
I felt weightless and at the same time as heavy as rocks.
My knees buckled, and I dropped to the floor.
Chapter 36
I WOKE up between clean sheets, looking over the footboard of a metal-frame bed.
A candle burned on the bedside table, casting a dancing yellow light on the plywood walls and on the woman who was watching me from a chair by the window. She was wearing a white lab coat, and her braided hair was wrapped around her head like a halo.
I remembered—or had I dreamed it? Sabeena caught me as I fainted and put me to bed. Had I actually found Sabeena exactly where I had looked for her? Was it really her? How else could this have happened except by some kind of miracle?
I was nearly overwhelmed. I spoke in a whisper.
“Sa-bee-na.”
Ten feet away, Sabeena clasped her hands together and said, “Thank you, Jesus.”
She came over and sat on the bed, and she stretched her arms out to me. I went into her hug and held her so tight. I no longer felt faint. I was jubilant. Oh, my God, Sabeena was here and alive. And I still hadn’t thanked her.
“Thank you, Sabeena. Thank you for saving my life.”
“My dear, of course, and you would have done exactly the same. My God, Brigid. I’ve missed you like crazy.”
I prayed right there in her arms.
“Dear Lord. Thank you for showing me the way to my dearest friend. Thank you for this amazing gift. Amen.”
Sabeena said, “Amen,” and we rocked and cried for good long time, and then she rubbed my back and let me go, saying, “I had a feeling I was going to see you when I least expected it. But this, Brigid? I never thought you’d come right to my door.”
“You just never know what I’m going to do next.”
We had a good laugh, and then I said, “Lie down, Sabeena. Tell me what happened at Kind Hands.”
She wiped her eyes with the heels of her palms, sighed deeply, and flipped around, and we shared the pillow.
She said, “It’s an ugly story, Brigid. The day after you were shot, Zuberi came into the settlement with troops, big vehicles, and explosives. A lot of everything. They shot up the settlement. Burned down what would burn. I heard that Jup died.”
“I heard the same.”
“Most of the IDPs got out, but not all. I heard terrible stories, Brigid. Children and people who couldn’t run were just gunned down. The South Sudanese arrived at the last minute and fought a good fight. Zuberi retreated. Some of the survivors are here in Magwi. Some are in Yida or Jamam. Some are in camps in Uganda. So I’ve been told.”
“How did you escape?”
“On my two feet. When I came back from taking you to the airport, the action was just starting. My ride took off without me. I wanted to hide, but Wuster said, ‘Get out while you can.’ I started walking out. Many people did. I saw the smoke rising where the settlement had been and kept going for maybe two weeks. Then I got a ride to Magwi. I was needed. I stayed.”
I wanted to ask about Jemilla and Aziza, but I thought she would tell me that she didn’t know where they were. Or that they were dead. I wasn’t ready to hear that.
And then Sabeena rolled toward me so that we were lying face to face. She was excited.
“Guess what, Brigid?”
I said, “Give me a hint.”
“I got married.”
“No. You did not.”
She smiled and nodded. Showed me her ring. I squealed. She squealed, too.
I’m sure we woke up some of the patients sleeping in the wards around us, but joyful screaming was on the program.
“Tell me more,” I managed to say. “Tell me everything.”
“His name is Albert. You’ll meet him tomorrow, and he will tell you a lot in great detail. But now, I must ask, what have you been up to, my darling girl? Last time I saw you, you weren’t saying anything at all.”
I squeezed her hand. She squeezed back.
I told her, “After I was released from the hospital in Amsterdam, I stayed with friends in Rome. And then God showed me a picture of Magwi.”
“Did He?”
“How else could I have found you?”
“Then of course He did,” said Sabeena. “I’m going to thank Him for this big blessing. But right now, I have rounds. You sleep well, and I’ll see you in the morning, Brigid. Sweet dreams.”
“I love you, Sabeena.”
“Me too, Brigid, dear.”
She put a bottle of water on my night table, blew out the candle, and kissed my forehead good night.
Chapter 37