Chapter 11 – The Unexpected Encounter
It was another sweltering day at the market. Salimo sat in a corner, tired of begging and being ignored. The noise of voices mingled with the smell of dried fish, ripe fruit, and dust stirred up by hurried footsteps. To those passing by, he was invisible. To him, each indifferent face was another silent wound.
But that day, something different happened. An elderly woman stopped in front of him. She didn't look away like the others. She looked at him calmly, as if she could see beyond the dirt, the torn clothes, and the hunger etched on his face.
She asked him his name. Salimo answered in a low, suspicious voice. She asked if he had already eaten. He shook his head, too afraid to lie. There was silence for a few seconds, until she said: — “If you want, you can come and help at my house. I don't have much, but there will always be a plate of food.”
These words entered Salimo like a ray of light in the darkness. They weren't promises of wealth, but they rang with dignity. For the first time in a long time, someone saw value in him.
You Can: Sometimes, all it takes is a voice that believes in you to rekindle what seemed lost.
