Chapter 1885

*
The proposal was quickly finalized, but the most crucial step was visiting the orphanage in person. Finding the time, Karina and Wilfred drove out together to see it.
The location was decent, but the orphanage itself felt like a forgotten relic. Everything was old and worn down, like something out of a bygone era. The faded green gate was rusted, and the crumbling walls looked as if they might collapse at any moment.
Karina was stunned when she saw the peeling paint on the walls. “How is a place like this still standing? Wouldn’t it be classified as a dangerous building?” she asked, unable to hide her shock.
Just then, a woman in a wool coat stepped out. She heard Karina’s remark and offered a wry smile. “You’re not wrong. This orphanage was officially deemed unsafe back in the fall. But we have over thirty children here, along with a few caretakers and myself a total of forty people.
“If the building gets torn down, where would all of us go? The officials couldn’t come up with an answer, and neither can we. That’s why the demolition has been delayed-probably their way of showing us a little mercy.”
Karina turned her attention to the woman.
The middle-aged woman had a kind face, but her wool coat was faded, showing its age. It was clear she’d been wearing it for years.
From this alone, Karina could see just how impoverished the orphanage was.
“I’m sorry,” Karina said, realizing how thoughtless her earlier words had sounded. “And you are…?”
The woman introduced herself as the director of the orphanage.
Karina’s surprise deepened. The director?
“You’re surprised, aren’t you?” the woman said with a faint smile. “I get that reaction a lot. Well, it’s cold out here-let’s talk inside.”
Once inside, Karina gained an even clearer picture of the orphanage’s dire situation.
The poverty was overwhelming. Even for guests, all they could offer were two cups of plain warm water. The director, clearly embarrassed, apologized. “I’m sorry. We don’t have any tea or coffee to serve you…” Her gaze drifted to Wilfred and Karina, taking in their obviously high-quality clothing. She seemed even more self-conscious, lowering her head.
Sensing the discomfort, Karina quickly picked up her cup and took a sip. “It’s fine. I don’t like tea or coffee anyway. This is perfect. Please, have a seat so we can talk.”
With that, they got down to business.
Karina took out the proposal she had prepared. She silently thanked herself for keeping it straightforward and easy to understand it wouldn’t overwhelm the director.
The director studied the document
for a long moment. When she
looked up, her eyes were alight with hope and excitement. “You’re really willing to invest in this orphanage? To renovate it and promise not to eviet the children or caretakers?”
“Yes, absolutely,” Wilfred assured her. “You can rest easy. We understand how difficult it is to find good caretakers, and those children have nowhere else to go. We’re here to help, not uproot anyone.
The director clasped the proposal tightly in her hands, her voice trembling with gratitude. “Thank you- thank you so much! I don’t even know how to express how I feel right now.”
Tears streamed down her face as she spoke, her emotions spilling over. She held onto the proposal as though it were a lifeline, her relief palpable.
Watching her, Karina felt a pang in her chest.
The director, though only in her early forties, had been working at the orphanage for nearly twenty years. She must have started here in her twenties, dedicating her youth to this place.
After reviewing the orphanage’s financial records, Karina could
hardly imagine how the director had manage to hold everything
together for so long, with such ine
limited resources, caring for so many children alongside her small team.