The little girl nodded, clutching a worn-out teddy bear. “My tummy hurts so much,” she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Let’s get you looked at, okay?” José reassured her, ushering her gently towards the porch. “The ambulance is on the way.”

Inside, the house was quiet, save for the low hum of a TV still playing cartoons. Liliana’s mother lay on a sofa, unconscious and unmoving, her face pale and drawn. José’s heart ached at the sight, but he focused on Liliana, who needed immediate attention.