The path to the lady's house seemed short, but for Salimo it was an immense journey. Each step mixed anxiety and hope. He carried nothing with him, only his thin body, worn clothes, and the desire to start over. The house was simple: whitewashed walls, a zinc roof, a small yard with chickens pecking around. But, […]

The woman's words echoed in Salimo's mind: "You can come help at my house. There will always be a plate of food." Simple, direct, but filled with something he hadn't known for a long time: hope. Even so, the decision wasn't easy. The street, harsh as it was, was already familiar to him. He knew the […]

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 kicked up by hurried footsteps. To those passing by, he was invisible. To him, each indifferent face was another wound […]

Despite all the hardship, the streets couldn't extinguish the spark within Salimo. In the darkest moments, he still found reasons to believe. A rare smile from a stranger, the helping hand of another boy, or even the simple sunrise were signs that it was still worth continuing. There was one night […]

The two constant presences in Salimo's life were hunger and cold. His empty stomach ached as if it contained stones. Sometimes he would find scraps of hardened bread in the market's trash and chew slowly, trying to trick his body. Other times, someone's discreet kindness would appear—a piece of fruit left "unintentionally" […]

The days passed mercilessly. The streets forced Salimo to learn quickly. Hunger taught him where to look for scraps of food, the night taught him where to hide from violence, the cold showed him the value of a piece of cardboard or a torn blanket. Every corner had its rules, and ignoring them could be costly. He discovered that the […]

The nights were the hardest. The cold was a relentless enemy, and loneliness a silent companion. Salimo huddled in hidden corners, trying to trick his body with sleep, but hunger wouldn't let him rest. Many times, he asked himself if this was the end of his story. Deep down, he clung to memories of school, of […]

The street didn't ask permission to welcome Salimo. It was harsh from day one. The cold asphalt became his mattress, and the open sky, his blanket. Night arrived with a biting cold that seemed to pierce his bones. Day brought a merciless sun and, with it, a hunger that burned from within. He soon realized that the […]

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 the home. His mother, alone, could no longer support the household. Rice was scarce, the pot boiled almost empty, and bills piled up. The mud walls began to crumble...

There were days when his colleagues' laughter at his worn-out shoes hurt more than hunger. Other times, the heavy silence of the room seemed to remind him of everything he lacked. But even so, Salimo kept the flame alive. Between the laughter of those who mocked his worn-out shoes and the stern gaze of others...