“Without your family, you are nothing.”—Muazena
This quote encapsulates a central theme in the story. Sofia, an adolescent girl living in Mozambique, has her family shattered when raiders invade their village. She loses her father and her grandmotherly friend, Muazena, along with her home. She, her mother (Lydia), sister (Maria), and brother (Alfredo) move on foot from village to village until they settle with many others who have fled their villages. This village offers schooling for the children so that they can learn to read and write. Sofia and Maria attend half days and work the other half. José Maria, a Brazilian priest in charge of the school, calls a meeting of the villagers and warns them to stay on the worn paths because there are landmines in the area. Although this warning is taken seriously, Sofia accidentally leaves the path one day and she and Maria become victims of a mine. Sofia survives but loses her legs as a result. The story continues to describe her long recovery and how she was able to walk with artificial legs. She learns to sew and is able to return to her family in the village to continue her life. Throughout the story, Sofia returns to look at the flames in a fire. The flames hold her memories of those who were important to her—her family and friends. She realizes that she will always have them close to her even though they are dead. She knows that her family is the most important thing in her life, and she decides to stay close to them.
