He stared at her in surprise. In the weeks since arriving in Johannesburg, most people had either ignored him or laughed at him. No one had simply been kind.
“Are you sure?”
She smiled. “Everyone needs help sometimes.”
Her name was Grace.
Daniel sat on a nearby wooden bench and ate. The food was simple, hot, and comforting. It felt like the first real kindness he had tasted since leaving home.
When the last customer drifted away, Grace came and sat beside him.
“You’re new here, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Yes. A few weeks now.”
“Where are you from?”
He hesitated. “Nigeria.”
Her expression brightened. “Me too.”
He looked surprised.
Grace lowered her eyes for a moment. “I grew up in an orphanage,” she said softly. “Life taught me early how to survive.”
Daniel felt something tighten in his chest. “That must have been hard.”
Leave a Comment