“Girls,” the caregiver cried, her voice breaking as panic rose, “please stop.”

Matteo felt his heart pound violently against his ribs as he shouted their names, his voice echoing uselessly through the square, because they did not slow or hesitate, and when they reached the elderly woman with silver hair and worn clothing, they ran straight into her open arms as if that was exactly where they had always belonged.

“Grandma,” they called together, their voices bright with certainty and joy.