Irene, as soon as she graduated in medicine completing her education specializing in pediatrics, decided to practice her profession in Africa to help children who in those countries hardly have a future.
More precisely, he decided to go on a mission with the other doctors in Tanzania.
His parents, even though they were generous and sensitive people, did not hide that they would not want their daughter to leave, because there are so many risks in those countries. This, however, did not stop Irene, who had had this deep desire since she was a child.
Around the age of fifteen he had dreamed of a child who came down from a white cloud and said:
"There are so many children like me in the world who need help, don't leave them alone."
Irene, upset, then decided to be a doctor.
One morning in January, a few days after the Christmas holidays, he left, reassuring his family that they would always remain in contact and would soon return to find them. To Chiara, the mother of Irene, a woman already apprehensive of him, that embrace and that kiss on her cheek seemed to be goodbye.
After many hours of traveling Irene arrived in Morogoro, in a very small village; there, waiting for her there were other three of her colleagues, Daniele, Marco and Sara.
That day, there was a very hot sun that kissed that land tortured by poverty and on the street many children walked barefoot. Irene immediately thought of Western children who barely walk on the sand by the sea without shoes.
The children, on the other hand, at the sight of those funny because white people, at first glance remained frightened; then, someone older and more curious began to approach: so even the little ones were courageous and even with frightened air they followed them. Along the way, Daniele, who had been there before, explained to Irene that the sun would not see him often because Tanzania was very rainy.
Irene nodded, saying:
"I know! When I knew I had to come on a mission, I inquired about these places to learn more about their climate and their habits. "
Arrived in the shed where there were two other doctors, Alberto and Stefania, they set about fixing all the food that Irene had brought.
Then, in the evening, they prepared dinner, a typical Tanzanian dish: the Ugai.
To be more precise, the Ugai is like our polenta, of a lighter color.
The next day, Alberto and Stefania, before leaving to return home after two years, were advised to be careful of insects that could cause illness, sometimes even fatal.
Six months passed quickly and Irene had seen and heard so many stories: but she could not get used to it, because one should not get used to death, the death that too often comes and takes away children who should have a whole life ahead and many roads still to be traveled, that death, which terrifies the eyes of those who lived it and only by a miracle, the day-to-day dodge, the death that lives in the hearts of those who were born in those lands, but who also lives in those who those lands go there only to help others and put their lives at risk, because their hearts are full of immense and pure love that always makes you ready to help others without asking for it in return.
Irene had cultivated in herself the meaning and meaning of dedication and now she was there, to put it into practice and if the pain of a loss was
great, the joy of saving a life was even greater.
On a warm evening in late June, Daniele came out of the shed and joined Irene; he found her sitting on the grass that looked to the sky that evening was particularly serene and starry. They started talking about what had happened during the day, then they began to talk about their Italy, how great was the longing for their loved ones, their habits and all the friends they had left there.
After chatting for a while, Daniele found the courage to tell Irene that he was in love with her. He wondered, however, if Irene was interested in him as he had seemed to understand more than once or was only all the fruit of his imagination and that maybe Irene would have burst out laughing on hearing that passionate confession.
Instead Irene looked at him and, moved, told him that she was reciprocating her feelings. Everything, however, was interrupted by Sara.
"Daniele, Irene, run! There is a girl who came to ask for help for her little brother. "
"What happens?" Asked Daniele and the little girl named Amina who had gone there to ask for help crying, replied: "My little brother is very sick, if you don't help him he will die!"
Led by the child they arrived in a small house. On a cot without a blanket was the child, Sadik, that was his name.