Simon

chapter one : never loose faith

Simon sat huddled in the corner of the cramped cell, his small frame trembling as the sounds of the sweatshop filled the air around him. He was just three years old, but already he had spent his entire life in this place, a former prison in South Africa that had been converted into a slavery sweatshop.

As he listened to the whir of the machines and the shouts of the guards, Simon couldn't help but wonder what the outside world was like. His mother had told him stories, painting a beautiful picture of green fields and blue skies, but Simon had never seen it for himself.

"Mama," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the noise. "Tell me again about the outside"

His mother, who was bent over a sewing machine a few feet away, looked up and smiled sadly at him. "The world is a vast and beautiful place Simon" she said, her voice filled with longing. "full of wonder and mystery. From the sun rise over the horizon, it casts a warm and golden glow over the land, illuminating the dew-covered grass and sparkling waters. The birds take to the sky, filling the air with their melodies and adding to the symphony of sounds that fills the natural world.

As the day wears on, the heat of the sun gives way to the cool embrace of the evening, and the stars come out to twinkle in the inky blackness of the sky. The moon rises, casting a soft and calming light over the landscape, and the nocturnal creatures emerge to take their place in the cycle of life."

Simon's eyes widened with wonder at his mother's words. He had always imagined the outside world to be a magical place, but hearing his mother describe it made it feel all the more real.

"Can we go there someday?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.

His mother's smile faded, and she shook her head. "I'm afraid we can't, Simon," she said softly. "We're trapped here, just like all the others."

"But we have to have hope," his mother continued, reaching out to stroke his hair. "We have to believe that one day we'll be free. And until then, we have to hold onto each other and never lose faith."

She looked at Simon with such intensity that he felt a lump form in his throat. He nodded, promising his mother that he would never lose faith.