The Great Altruist by Z. D. Robinson

give you my word.”
     
                The two women sat silently on the grass, neither of them eager to begin the day’s agenda. Genesis never wanted Jadzia to feel pressured. If she felt the need to spend several days more resting, Genesis had the time. She started to doze off when Jadzia stood up and readied herself to leave. “Is it time?” Genesis asked.
     
                “Yes. I want to see my mother.”
     
                “Right away.” Genesis bolted from the ground and rushed to Jadzia’s side. Seconds later, they were gone.
     

     
                Nighttime ruled the camp when the two women arrived. The moon cast its light all across the grounds and Genesis cautiously canvassed the area, making sure the path was safe. She crawled through the window of a nearby building as Jadzia reemerged from the stream.
     
                “Keep your eyes closed,” Genesis said.
     
                Jadzia obeyed as Genesis led her by the hand through the dark to avoid the bodies that lied on the floor. Once she found clothes and was dressed, she left the gas chamber and hid behind a nearby guard shack. Genesis stayed in front of her at all times and motioned her to follow when the path was clear. She eventually led her down the moonlit road to the barrack where Jadzia’s mother was kept. She hid inside the pocket of Jadzia’s coat as they entered the shed.
     
                Inside the barrack, the beds were stacked as they were where her father slept. The women were skin over bones; many had lost their hair, their faces drenched in ennui. The stench, juxtaposed against the fresh night air, hit Jadzia like a punch in the face. She covered her mouth and nose and gathered her composure before she moved on to find her mother. The women were gathered several per bed, but her mother was nowhere to be found. Behind the rows of bunks lied a group of women gathered on the floor, stacked against each other like sardines with hardly any room to breathe. To Jadzia’s chagrin, her mother was surrounded on all sides. She cautiously approached her mother and touched her leg, stirring her awake as calmly as possible.
     
                Her mother awoke and carefully looked around when she saw a beautiful, familiar-looking woman standing above her. Like Jadzia’s father, her mother did not take long to recognize her. “Jadzia?” she whispered.
     
                Jadzia got on her knees and said: “Yes, Mama, it’s me.”
     
                “I thought I’d lost you.” Jadzia’s mother began to cry.
     
                “I’m fine,” she said as she reached out to take her mother’s hand.
     
                “How did you get here? You don’t look sixteen.”
     
                Jadzia felt a slight pinch on her breast from Genesis in her pocket, reminding her not to divulge too much. “I can’t tell you how I got here. It isn’t safe. I came to tell you that I love you.”
     
                “I’ve missed you so,” her mother said.
     
                “I’ve missed you too. And father too.”
     
                Her mother was aghast. “Have you seen him? Where is he?”
     
                “He’s in a camp like this one not far from here. He wanted me to tell you he loves you and hopes to be with you soon.”
     
                She knew her words would go unfulfilled and as hard she tried to contain it, a knot formed in her stomach and her emotions took over. Tears followed.
     
                “What’s wrong?” her mother asked, stroking her daughter’s cheek.
     
                “This is all my fault, Mama.” She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
     
                “You don’t mean the day we were taken, do you?”
     
                She nodded.
     
                “Dear, if you had pulled that