Chapter 5 – The Crumbling House

Salimo's childhood seemed to be finding some direction, but life took a sharp turn. His father, tired of losing battles against unemployment and alcohol, abandoned home. His mother, alone, could no longer support the family. Rice was scarce, the pot boiled almost empty, and the bills piled up. The mud walls began to crack, not only physically, but also in the family's heart.

Still, Salimo tried to maintain his school routine. But his empty stomach weighed more heavily than his notebook. His pencil trembled between his weak fingers. The sparkle in his eyes remained, but it was overshadowed by the weight of his hardships.

One day, when he returned from school, he found the door locked. There were no voices inside. Only silence. His mother, exhausted and without resources, could no longer care for him. That was how he discovered that sometimes life changes in an instant—without warning, without explanation.

What was left for a boy to do but accept the push of reality? That day, Salimo felt he no longer had a home. And the world, cold and immense, became his only abode.

You Can: Even when everything falls apart, you can still find the strength within yourself to keep going.