She was picked from the row in Ter Apel. I meet Destiny in office building ‘Klein Ter Apel’ in Gouda, which may be her safe place for a month. She sits, she sits and she sits. Six-year-old girls are supposed to be in school, singing and jumping. I roll up newspapers, one for her and one for me. We’ll be having a sword fight in no time. She laughs, jumps and screams with joy. When I leave, she gives me a high five. I look around once more. She sits again, she sits and she sits. But at least she has a place to eat, sleep and shower.
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A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of September 17, 2022