Chapter 3 – The Brightness and the Pain
From the very first days, it became clear that there was something different about Salimo. The letters that others memorized without enthusiasm, he devoured with a sparkle in his eyes. Each word he learned was like a key that opened invisible doors. In mathematics, he discovered a pleasure in solving problems, as if the numbers were puzzles waiting for him.
But while school revealed paths to him, it also revealed the scars of inequality. While some classmates arrived with colorful lunchboxes, he often found himself with nothing but empty stomachs. While others brought new notebooks, Salimo reused crumpled pages. His pencil was small, barely reaching the eraser, but he held it like someone protecting a treasure.
His differences were noticed and sometimes used as a weapon. Some classmates laughed at his worn shoes and patched clothes. Others whispered when they saw the worn pages of his notebook. It hurt, but he wouldn't let himself be silenced. Still, he never stopped raising his hand to answer. Each time he got it right, his embarrassment lessened, and his confidence grew.
School was at once a space of pain and discovery. And in this fragile balance, Salimo began to understand that knowledge could give him something no one could take away: dignity.
You Can: What makes the difference isn't what you have in your backpack, but the strength you carry in your heart.
