End of the tunnel

Chapter One: The Boy in the Leather Jacket "Sometimes the people who change our lives forever arrive disguised as ordinary strangers." The afternoon sun hung lazily over the dusty streets of Kawangware, painting everything in warm shades of gold. The familiar scent of roasted maize drifted through the air as schoolchildren hurried home, laughing and chasing each other along the roadside. Pendo balanced a basket of tomatoes on her hip as she walked toward the market. At nineteen, she had learned that life rarely gave second chances. After dropping out of high school in Form Three because her parents could no longer afford the fees, she spent her days helping her mother sell vegetables and taking care of the house whenever her parents were away. She often wondered what life would have been if she had finished school. Maybe she would have become a nurse. Maybe a teacher. Instead, every morning began before sunrise and ended after sunset. Still, she smiled. Her younger brother Brian always joked that Pendo could find sunshine even on rainy days. "You're smiling again," Brian teased as he appeared beside her, carrying a small backpack over one shoulder. "What?" "You only smile like that when you're dreaming." "I wasn't dreaming." "You were." Pendo rolled her eyes. "You talk too much." "And you deny too much." They laughed together. Brian had recently joined a local driving school. Every evening he returned home excited, telling stories about reversing lessons, traffic signs and instructors who shouted louder than car horns. "You should come with me tomorrow," Brian suddenly said. "To driving school?" she laughed. "I didn't say to enroll." "Then?" "I want you to meet someone." Pendo narrowed her eyes. "No." "You don't even know who I'm talking about." "I know you." Brian grinned mischievously. "My friend." "I'm not interested." "He keeps asking about you." She stopped walking. "What?" Brian shrugged casually. "I showed him your picture." "You what?" "The family photo." "Brian!" "He said you have kind eyes." Pendo tried to hide the warmth spreading across her cheeks. "You shouldn't do that." "So... you'll come?" "No." "You're blushing." "I'm not." "You are." She walked ahead quickly while Brian burst into laughter. ________________________________________ The next afternoon, Brian convinced her anyway. "It'll only be five minutes." "I don't belong there." "You're just bringing me lunch." "You said you forgot your food." "I did." "So why are you smiling?" "Because you'll finally meet him." "You tricked me!" Brian laughed so hard that several students turned to look at him. The driving school occupied a small compound behind a petrol station. Learners stood in groups discussing road signs while an old white pickup truck idled nearby. Pendo felt suddenly self-conscious. She adjusted her simple blue dress and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Brian waved enthusiastically. "Chris!" A tall young man turned around. He wore faded jeans, dusty boots and a black leather jacket despite the afternoon heat. His smile appeared before he reached them. "So this is your famous sister." His voice was calm. Friendly. Nothing like the arrogant men who usually whistled at women in the market. "Pendo," Brian said proudly, "this is Chris." Chris stretched out his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you." Pendo hesitated only a second before shaking it. His handshake was gentle. "I've heard a lot about you," Chris said. "I hope only good things." Brian laughed. "I only told the truth." Chris looked directly into her eyes. "I think he forgot to mention you're even prettier in person." Pendo felt her cheeks burn. Nobody had ever spoken to her that way. Not with rehearsed compliments. Not with wandering eyes. Just... sincerely. "Thank you," she whispered. Brian cleared his throat dramatically. "I suddenly feel invisible." All three laughed. They spent nearly half an hour talking. Chris explained how he hoped to become a professional truck driver one day. "I want to see every corner of Kenya," he said. "And maybe beyond." Pendo listened quietly. There was something infectious about his optimism. He spoke about hard work instead of shortcuts. Dreams instead of excuses. By the time she left, she found herself smiling for reasons she couldn't explain. ________________________________________ Over the following weeks, Chris seemed to appear everywhere. At the market. Near the bus stage. Outside the driving school. Sometimes he would buy roasted maize for both of them. Sometimes they simply walked while talking. He never pressured her. Never rushed her. He listened. Really listened. "What do you want from life?" he asked one evening as they watched the sunset from a hill overlooking the neighborhood. Pendo was silent. "No one's ever asked me that." "I'm asking now." She looked at the orange sky. "I just want peace." He nodded slowly. "And a family." She smiled shyly. "A happy one." Chris reached for her hand. "If you'll let me..." "...I'd like to build that family with you someday." The words settled gently between them. Neither spoke for several moments. Pendo had never imagined that silence could feel so comfortable. ________________________________________ Their relationship blossomed quietly. Chris began visiting Pendo's family under the excuse of returning Brian's notebooks or borrowing tools. Her mother noticed. "So..." Mama Grace asked while preparing supper one evening. "That young man." "What about him?" "He looks at you as though you're the only girl in Kenya." Pendo nearly dropped the plate she was washing. "Mama!" "I'm only saying what everyone else sees." Her father wasn't convinced. "A man should first establish himself before speaking about marriage." "He is trying," Brian defended his friend. "He'll get there." Her father sighed. "Trying isn't enough." Pendo remained silent throughout dinner. But later that night she couldn't stop thinking about Chris's promise. A family. A happy one. Could such happiness really exist? ________________________________________ Three months later, Chris arrived carrying a small bouquet of wildflowers. "I know they're not roses." "They're beautiful." "I picked them myself." "You did?" "I almost got chased by a goat." Pendo laughed until tears filled her eyes. "You risked your life for flowers?" "Worth it." He handed them to her awkwardly. "I don't have much." "You don't have to." "But one day..." He looked toward the horizon. "...I'll give you everything." She believed him. With all her heart. ________________________________________ Not everyone approved. One evening, Pendo's father called her aside. "I hear you've been seeing that driver." "He's still learning." "He has no stable job." "He will." "Love doesn't buy food." "It isn't about money." "It becomes about money." She looked down. "I love him." Her father's expression softened for just a moment. "You think love is enough." "It is." He shook his head. "No, my daughter." He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Respect." "Responsibility." "Trust." "Those are what keep a family together." Pendo wanted to argue. Instead, she simply nodded. She was certain her father was wrong. Chris wasn't like other men. He was kind. Patient. Gentle. He would never hurt her. Never leave her. Never break the promises he whispered beneath evening skies. At least... ...that's what she believed. As she watched Chris disappear down the road after another visit, she couldn't see the long shadows stretching behind him. She only saw the light. And sometimes... the brightest beginnings hide the darkest endings. End of Chapter One Chapter Two: Stolen Moments The following Saturday, Pendo promised herself she wouldn't think about Chris. It had been a week since Brian introduced them at the driving school, yet somehow the young man with the warm smile had managed to occupy every corner of her thoughts. She hated that. She had chores to do. There were vegetables to sort, clothes to wash, and water to fetch from the communal tap before the queue became too long. There was no time to sit around thinking about boys. "You're smiling again." Pendo looked up to find her mother watching her from the doorway. "I wasn't." "You were." Mama Grace chuckled before returning to shelling peas. Pendo lowered her eyes, pretending to concentrate on arranging tomatoes into neat piles. She wasn't smiling. At least... she didn't think she was. ________________________________________ Driving school had ended earlier than expected that afternoon. Brian and Chris stood outside the gate waiting for a matatu. "I'll see you on Monday," Chris said. Brian glanced toward the market across the road. "Actually, my sister works there today." Chris tried to sound casual. "Oh?" "You could say hello." "I don't want to bother her." Brian laughed. "You've asked about her every single day." Chris rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "Have I?" "You know you have." Before Chris could answer, Brian was already walking toward the market. Chris sighed. "You never listen." "Nope." ________________________________________ Pendo was helping a customer choose onions when she heard Brian call her name. She turned. Brian stood beside Chris, both smiling as though they had planned something. "What are you two doing here?" she asked. "Passing by," Brian replied innocently. "Liar." "Fine." He laughed. "I brought someone who wanted to see you." Chris looked slightly embarrassed. "I was nearby." "You were at driving school." "I... happened to pass nearby afterward." Pendo couldn't help laughing. "So you came all this way just to say hello?" Chris smiled. "I suppose I did." For a moment, neither of them spoke. The noise of the market faded into the background. It was strange how comfortable silence felt around him. "I should let you work," Chris finally said. Before leaving, he placed a small paper bag on the table. "What's this?" "Mandazi." "You bought me mandazi?" "And tea." "I don't even know if you like tea." "I do." "I guessed." Pendo shook her head, laughing softly. "You didn't have to." "I wanted to." Then he walked away. She watched until he disappeared into the crowd. Brian leaned closer. "I've never seen him nervous before." ________________________________________ Over the next few weeks, seeing Chris became part of Pendo's routine. Sometimes he waited for her after the market closed. Other days they met by chance—or so he claimed. They walked through quiet streets, talking about everything and nothing. "What was school like?" Chris asked one evening. "I loved literature." "You read novels?" "I used to." "What happened?" Pendo shrugged. "Life happened." Chris was quiet for a moment. "You'll read again." She smiled sadly. "You sound so sure." "I am." "And how can you know that?" "Because one day..." he said, looking at her with a confidence she didn't understand, "...life will be kinder to you." His words settled gently in her heart. No one had ever spoken to her as though her future mattered. ________________________________________ One Sunday afternoon, Chris invited Brian and Pendo to a football match at the local field. After the match ended, Brian disappeared with friends, leaving them sitting beneath a large acacia tree. "You planned this," Pendo said. Chris laughed. "I think your brother likes playing matchmaker." "He certainly does." The breeze carried the scent of fresh grass. Children chased homemade kites across the open field while vendors called out to passing customers. Chris broke the silence. "What scares you the most?" The question surprised her. She thought carefully before answering. "Being forgotten." He frowned. "Forgotten?" "My parents work so hard." "I had dreams too." "I wanted to finish school." "I wanted to make them proud." She looked at her hands. "Sometimes I feel like my life stopped." Chris reached for her hand. His touch was gentle. "It hasn't stopped." She looked up. "I promise you something." "What?" "No matter where life takes me..." "...I'll never forget you." Pendo felt tears sting her eyes. Nobody had ever made a promise that sounded so sincere. "I believe you," she whispered. He smiled. "I'm glad." ________________________________________ That evening, Chris walked her home. They stopped a few metres from her gate. "I suppose this is where I leave." She nodded. "Thank you for today." "I had fun." "So did I." Neither moved. Neither wanted the evening to end. Finally, Chris reached into his pocket. "I almost forgot." He handed her a folded piece of paper. "What is this?" "Read it when you're alone." Before she could ask another question, he turned and walked away. Pendo waited until she was inside her bedroom before unfolding it. The handwriting was slightly untidy. Dear Pendo, I don't know if this is too soon. Maybe it is. But every day I spend with you reminds me that the best things in life arrive unexpectedly. I don't have much to offer right now. I don't own a house. I don't drive a big truck. I don't have money. But I have dreams. And if you'll let me... I'd like to spend my life chasing those dreams with you beside me. —Chris. Pendo read the letter again. And again. Then she carefully folded it and hid it beneath her pillow. That night, sleep came with a smile she couldn't hide. ________________________________________ Not everyone shared her happiness. Two days later, her father noticed Chris waiting outside the market. "That young man again?" Pendo nodded. Her father's face hardened. "He spends more time here than looking for work." "He is looking." "He should find stability first." "Mzee," Brian interrupted gently, "Chris is almost done with driving school." "Almost isn't enough." "He'll get a job." Her father sighed. "I've lived longer than all of you." "I know how life works." Pendo lowered her eyes. "You only see his smile." "I see the responsibilities waiting for him." She wanted to defend Chris. To tell her father he was wrong. Instead, she remained silent. Later that evening, Chris noticed she was unusually quiet. "What's wrong?" "My father doesn't approve of us." Chris looked down for a moment before meeting her eyes again. "I understand." "You do?" "If I had a daughter, I'd want the best for her too." He smiled softly. "So I'll prove him wrong." "How?" "I'll get a job." "I'll work hard." "I'll build a future." "And one day..." "...your father will know that loving you was the best decision I ever made." Pendo couldn't stop the tears that slipped down her cheeks. For the first time in years... She allowed herself to believe in forever. Neither of them noticed Brian watching from a distance with a smile. Nor did they notice the elderly woman selling roasted maize nearby, quietly shaking her head. Young love always believed forever came easily. Life... ...had other plans. End of Chapter Two Chapter Three: A Home Built on Love The morning breeze carried the scent of wet earth after a night of light rain. Pendo stood outside her parents' house, sweeping the compound while humming softly. Every now and then, she glanced toward the road. She wasn't expecting anyone. At least, that was what she kept telling herself. A familiar whistle interrupted her thoughts. She looked up. Chris stood across the road, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, wearing the same crooked smile that had become impossible to forget. He lifted a small brown paper bag. "I come bearing peace offerings." Pendo laughed. "What have you brought this time?" "Samosas." "You think food solves everything?" "No." He grinned. "But it helps." She shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "You'll get me into trouble." "Only if your father sees me." As if summoned by the words, the front door opened. Mzee Daniel stepped outside. The smile on Pendo's face disappeared instantly. Chris straightened respectfully. "Good morning, sir." Her father nodded once. "Morning." The silence that followed was heavy enough to make Pendo uncomfortable. "I came to see Pendo," Chris finally said. "I can see that." Another silence. "If you've come to see her," Mzee Daniel continued calmly, "then do it properly. You don't need to stand outside my gate every other day." Chris swallowed. "Yes, sir." "And if your intentions are serious..." He looked directly into Chris's eyes. "...prove that you can take care of a family before asking for someone's daughter." Without waiting for a response, he walked away. Pendo let out a slow breath. "I'm sorry." Chris smiled faintly. "Don't be." "He's protecting you." "I understand." "But one day..." He squeezed the paper bag in his hand. "...I'll earn his respect." ________________________________________ Two weeks later, Brian burst through the front door before anyone else had returned home. "Pendo!" She rushed from the kitchen. "What happened?" "He got it!" "Who?" "Chris!" Her heart skipped. "What do you mean?" "He got the job!" She stared at Brian. "The transport company hired him." "As a truck driver?" Brian nodded excitedly. "He starts next Monday!" Pendo couldn't stop smiling. All the doubts. All the arguments. Maybe they were finally coming to an end. That evening Chris met her near the small football field where they often talked. The excitement in his eyes made him look like a little boy. "I got the job." "I know!" "Brian couldn't keep a secret." They both laughed. Chris reached into his pocket and pulled out a small key. "It isn't much." She looked at it curiously. "What is this?" "The key to our future." "Our future?" "I rented a single room." Pendo looked at him in surprise. "I've already paid the first month's rent." He hesitated before continuing. "I know I should wait." "I know your father doesn't approve." "But I love you." "I don't want to keep imagining a life with you." "I want to build one." Her heart raced. "You want us to..." He nodded. "Live together." Pendo looked away. It was everything she had dreamed of. And everything she feared. "My parents will never agree." "I know." "I'll ask them." "And if they refuse?" Chris's voice was quiet. "Then the decision will be yours." ________________________________________ That weekend Chris visited the house with Brian. He came carrying sugar, bread and a bag of rice as a sign of respect. Mama Grace welcomed him warmly. Mzee Daniel remained expressionless. They all sat in silence until Chris finally spoke. "Sir..." "I came because I love your daughter." "I want us to build a future together." Her father folded his arms. "Marriage?" Chris looked down. "I don't have enough money yet." "So no." "I was hoping..." "You were hoping she would leave this house before you're ready to marry her?" Chris remained silent. "Pendo deserves better." "I'll give her better." "When?" "As soon as I can." Mzee Daniel slowly stood. "You are a hardworking young man." "I respect that." "But hard work alone isn't enough." "My daughter is not leaving this house to become someone's experiment." The meeting ended there. Chris thanked them politely before leaving. Neither he nor Pendo spoke as they walked toward the road. "I'm sorry," she whispered. He smiled sadly. "I told you." "I understand." ________________________________________ Days passed. Chris threw himself into work. His routes were local—delivering building materials and farm supplies between Nairobi and nearby towns. He worked long hours. Sometimes fourteen hours a day. Whenever he had a free evening, he came to see Pendo. No matter how tired he was. No matter how dusty his clothes were. One evening he arrived carrying a tiny potted flower. "What is this?" "It was cheaper than roses." Pendo laughed. "I don't care." "It'll last longer." She carefully accepted it. "I'll keep it alive." "So will I." "What?" "Our love." She smiled. "I hope so." ________________________________________ Life at home became increasingly difficult. Her father noticed every meeting. Every smile. Every excuse. One evening, after Chris had walked her home, Mzee Daniel called her into the sitting room. "You've made your choice." Pendo frowned. "What choice?" "That young man." "I love him." "I know." "But love isn't enough." "He has a job now." "A beginning isn't the same as stability." "I believe in him." "And what if you're wrong?" She looked at her father with tears in her eyes. "I'm not." He sighed heavily. "If you leave this house..." "...don't expect marriage to become easier." "I'm not asking for your permission." "No." He looked at her sadly. "You're asking me to watch you make a mistake." ________________________________________ Pendo cried herself to sleep that night. The next morning she packed a small travelling bag. Two dresses. A sweater. A family photograph. The letter Chris had written months earlier. Nothing else. Mama Grace found her standing beside the bed. "Are you leaving?" Pendo nodded through tears. "I love him, Mama." "I know." "What if I'm making a mistake?" Her mother pulled her into a hug. "Every mother wants to keep her child close forever." "But eventually..." "...love asks us to let go." She placed a small Bible into Pendo's hands. "Whatever happens..." "...never stop praying." Pendo hugged her tightly. "I'll visit." "You'd better." They both laughed through their tears. Outside, Brian was waiting. "You really decided?" She nodded. "I'll take you." As they walked toward the road, Pendo turned back one last time. Her father stood silently on the veranda. Neither of them spoke. He simply watched as his daughter walked away carrying one small bag. She wanted him to stop her. To tell her to stay. He didn't. ________________________________________ Chris was waiting outside the tiny rental house. The moment he saw her carrying the bag, he understood. He hurried toward her. "You came." Pendo smiled through her tears. "I came." Chris took the bag from her hands. "I know I can't promise riches." "I know this house isn't much." He unlocked the rusty metal door. "But I promise you'll never regret choosing me." Pendo stepped inside. The room was small. A narrow bed stood against one wall. There was a tiny charcoal stove in one corner. Two plastic chairs. One wooden table. Nothing more. Yet to her... It felt like the beginning of a beautiful future. Chris wrapped his arms around her. "Welcome home." Pendo rested her head against his chest. Outside, the evening sun disappeared behind the rooftops. Inside that little room, two young hearts believed love could conquer every obstacle. Neither of them knew that the hardest roads were still ahead. End of Chapter Three Chapter Four: Dreams Under One Roof The first morning in their new home began with laughter. Not because everything was perfect. Far from it. The tiny single room barely had enough space for the bed and the small wooden table Chris had bought from a second-hand furniture shop. Their clothes were neatly folded inside two cardboard boxes because they couldn't afford a wardrobe. The charcoal stove sat by the window, and every time Pendo cooked, the room filled with smoke before the breeze carried it away. Still... To Pendo, it was the most beautiful place she had ever lived. She woke to find Chris staring at her. "What?" she asked shyly. He smiled. "I still can't believe you're here." "You'll have to believe it." "I keep thinking I'll wake up and find out it was all a dream." She laughed softly. "I'm real." Chris reached for her hand. "I know." "And I'm the luckiest man alive." Pendo rolled her eyes playfully. "You say the sweetest things." "I'm only telling the truth." She gently nudged him. "If we keep lying here talking, you'll be late for work." Chris looked at the old alarm clock resting on the table. His eyes widened. "Pendo!" "We're late!" The two burst into laughter as they rushed around the room, bumping into each other while trying to get ready. "You're in my way!" "This is my side!" "There is no side in this tiny room!" By the time Chris left for work, both of them were laughing so hard that tears rolled down their cheeks. Pendo stood at the doorway and waved until he disappeared around the corner. Only then did she close the door with a smile still lingering on her face. "This is home," she whispered. ________________________________________ Life settled into a comfortable rhythm. Every morning, Chris left before sunrise, dressed in his company overalls and carrying a packed lunch Pendo insisted on preparing for him. Every evening, no matter how exhausted he was, he came home with a smile. Sometimes he brought bread. Sometimes fresh fruit. Other times, he surprised her with roasted maize or a packet of biscuits. "I know it's not much," he would always say. "But I thought of you." And that was enough for Pendo. One evening, as they shared a simple supper of ugali and sukuma wiki, Chris cleared his throat. "I got my first full salary today." Pendo's face lit up. "Really?" He nodded proudly before placing an envelope on the table. "I want you to keep it." She blinked in surprise. "What?" "You'll manage our money better than I ever could." Pendo slowly pushed the envelope back. "No." "It's yours." "It's ours." She smiled. "Our first salary." Chris reached across the table and held her hand. "Our first step." ________________________________________ The following weekend, Brian visited. He looked around the small room before bursting into laughter. "So this is the palace?" Chris laughed. "It'll grow." "I hope so." Brian sat on the only chair in the room while Pendo served tea. "You two actually look happy." "We are," Pendo replied. Brian looked at his sister carefully. "Have you visited home?" Pendo shook her head. "I'm afraid." "Afraid of Baba?" She nodded. "He'll come around." "You think so?" Brian smiled. "He misses you." "He just won't admit it." Pendo looked down. "I miss them too." "You should visit." "Maybe next week." Chris placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'll go with you." She smiled gratefully. ________________________________________ A few days later, they walked to her parents' home carrying a loaf of bread and sugar. Mama Grace was the first to see them. Without a word, she wrapped Pendo in a tight embrace. "You've lost weight." "I've been fine." "Have you been eating properly?" Chris laughed. "She eats more than I do." Mama Grace smiled. "Good." When Mzee Daniel finally came outside, silence filled the compound. Chris stepped forward respectfully. "Good afternoon, sir." Her father studied him for a long moment. "I hear you've been working hard." "I'm trying." "Trying is good." He looked at Pendo. "But don't forget..." He turned back to Chris. "A family survives on consistency, not promises." Chris nodded. "I understand." "I won't let her down." For the first time, Mzee Daniel's expression softened. "I hope you're right." It wasn't approval. But it wasn't rejection either. As they walked home, Pendo slipped her hand into Chris's. "I think that went well." Chris smiled. "It did." "I told you." "He'll see." ________________________________________ Months passed. The little room slowly transformed into a home. A neighbour sold them a second-hand cupboard at a bargain price. Pendo bought colourful curtains from the market. Chris proudly brought home two matching cups. "They were on sale," he explained. Pendo laughed. "We're becoming real adults." "We already are." One evening, after arranging the room, Pendo stood back to admire it. "It isn't much." Chris wrapped his arms around her from behind. "It's everything." She leaned against him. "What do you think our future looks like?" He smiled thoughtfully. "A bigger house." "A proper kitchen." "A sitting room." "A television." She laughed. "A television?" "Of course." "So I don't have to keep listening to Brian's football commentary." They both laughed. "And children?" Pendo asked quietly. Chris looked at her. "A whole house full." She pretended to gasp. "A whole house?" "Maybe not a whole house." "Three?" "Four." Pendo turned to face him. "Four?" He shrugged innocently. "I like big families." She laughed until her stomach hurt. "I'll think about it." Chris kissed her forehead gently. "We have time." Neither of them knew that life had already begun writing a different story. ________________________________________ One Friday evening, Chris came home later than usual. His face was glowing with excitement. "Pendo!" She hurried to the door. "What happened?" "My supervisor called me into his office." Her heart skipped. "Are you in trouble?" He laughed. "No." "They're promoting me." "What?" "They've offered me long-distance routes." The smile on Pendo's face slowly faded. "Long-distance?" Chris nodded. "It pays almost twice as much." She forced a smile. "That's wonderful." "It means we'll finally start saving." "It means a bigger house." "A better future." He noticed the worry in her eyes. "What's wrong?" "You'll be away." "Only for a few days at a time." "You promise?" "I promise." Chris gently lifted her chin. "This is for us." "For our future." Pendo nodded, trying to silence the uneasiness growing inside her. She chose to believe him. After all... Every dream demanded a sacrifice. She just didn't know how much that sacrifice would cost. End of Chapter Four Chapter Five: The Road That Changed Everything The day Chris reported for his first long-distance assignment felt like the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Pendo woke before dawn to prepare breakfast. The room was still dark, the only light coming from the small kerosene lamp on the table. She quietly stirred porridge in a saucepan while Chris packed the few clothes he would need for the trip. "You've packed enough socks?" Pendo asked without looking up. Chris chuckled. "You've asked me that three times." "Because you'll forget." "I won't." She turned and folded one last shirt into his travel bag. "There." "What would I do without you?" "You'd probably wear the same socks for a week." Chris laughed so loudly that the neighbour knocked on the wall. "People are still sleeping!" Mama Akinyi called from the next room. "Sorry!" they answered together before bursting into laughter again. Moments like that made their little room feel like the happiest place in the world. ________________________________________ The transport company's yard was already buzzing when they arrived. Large trucks stood in neat rows, their engines rumbling as drivers checked tyres and loaded cargo. Chris looked around with excitement. "I've dreamed about this since driving school." Pendo squeezed his hand. "I'm proud of you." He pulled her into a hug. "I won't disappoint you." "I know." "I'll be back before you know it." "How long?" "The supervisor said a week.