Chapter 21
Chapter 21 — That Night of Fire
I walked slowly along the riverbank. My legs are still a bit wobbly, but every step is firmly planted on the ground. The phone vibrated, the first help message sent to the Small Rice Fund. A woman sent a photo, the door lock was latched from the outside by her husband. She said she was scared and didn't know if she could call the police or not. I stopped walking and dialed her number. The moment we connected, I heard her suppressed cries. I said: "You can call the police." "You're not causing trouble." "Please stay away from the door, find the window, keep in touch, I'll wait with you for the police to arrive." On the other end of the line, she burst into tears. I raised my head and looked out at the river. The wind blew, bringing with it damp steam. I held the phone tightly, whispering every word: "Don't be afraid, this time, someone believes you." RUN OUT OF