Chapter 293: Abandoned
Cammy’s first day at the orphanage was a whirlwind of joy and heartbreak. Sarah had warmly introduced her to the children, the handful of overworked staff, and the few dedicated volunteers who kept the place running like a worn engine—barely functional, but somehow still moving.
They were inspecting one of the run-down classrooms when a volunteer suddenly came sprinting down the corridor, breathless and pale.
"Sarah! The nursery—come quickly! Sister Olivia needs you right away!"
Without hesitation, Sarah took off, and Cammy instinctively followed, Hanna close behind. Even before they reached the nursery, Cammy’s steps quickened at the familiar, piercing sound of babies wailing in distress. Her hand clutched her belly protectively.
"They’re in pain," she whispered, her voice filled with alarm. "Those aren’t just hungry cries. Something’s wrong."
They burst into the nursery, where chaos met them like a storm. Two volunteers were desperately trying to soothe two shrieking newborns swaddled in thin blankets. Sister Olivia turned to Sarah, her face a mixture of awe and helplessness.
"They were just brought in," she explained, voice trembling. "An old couple found them by the roadside while traveling through the countryside. Abandoned. Just left there like trash."
Sarah’s face hardened with panic. "Sister, we have no space left! The nursery is already beyond capacity. We don’t even have enough cribs or formula. Can’t we transfer them somewhere else?"
"I tried," Sister Olivia replied, defeated. "I called every contact I had. No orphanage nearby is accepting newborns—short on staff, low on funds. We’re the only hope these babies have."
Cammy stepped forward without a word and gently lifted one of the fragile infants into her arms. Her breath hitched the moment she saw the baby’s face—tiny, flushed, and streaked with tears. She peered down at the other one and immediately began unwrapping the blanket.