Leaning heavily on my wooden staff, I dragged my weak, trembling legs across the dusty ground, hobbler-stepping until I finally reached the front of the shop. Every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through my body, making my knees wobble like leaves in the wind.
Two young boys were darting around the small space, excitedly assisting a middle-aged man with his wares. From the sharp similarity in their features, it was obvious they were his sons. The craftsman sat hunched over on a low wooden stool, his broad, calloused hands working relentlessly as he assembled dark wooden panels. Despite his focus, his booming voice echoed far down the street, shouting above the noise of the bustling crowd.
"Form a proper line, everyone! Keep order! These boxes will reach every last one of you if you r
