Her aunt pressed on: “He abandoned you. Come back home, but this time you’ll really work.” Amara refused: “I’ll stay here to guard his walls.” She felt stronger than anyone expected. On the tenth day, she found a note under the mattress: “Amara, if you’re reading this, it means I had to leave sooner than planned. Don’t look for me. Don’t believe what they say. Trust me one last time. I’ll come back.” She pressed the paper to her heart. She had already trusted him once; she would again.
Soon after, strange events began to occur. A young boy delivered a sack of rice with no donor’s name on it. Then, a woman from the market announced that her rent had been paid for three months. Finally, a seamstress came to take her measurements for clothes that had already been paid for. The village buzzed with rumors: « The beggar is sending money? He must have stolen something before leaving! » Amara ignored the whispers. One evening, a convoy of gleaming black vehicles appeared in the village, heading straight for her hut. Dust swirled around the shiny tires. The villagers gathered in astonishment.