Even wounded, the mother embraced Kanjis, her different son, without fear. In the silence of the stable, she finally decided to give him a name: Kanjis.
With trembling hands, she made a small hole in the hay and carefully placed the baby inside. Then she looked at her two-year-old daughter, Lua, and asked her to take care of her brother while she went to fetch water. Lua nodded, confused, but obedient.
Dawn brought more than light. Some villagers appeared in the village, walking with heavy steps. Their cold, disdainful gazes pierced the air. It was clear they were not welcome here.
The mother approached Lua, hugging her quickly before starting to move away.
— Mom, where are we going? — Lua asked, her voice trembling.
— To the mountains — the mother replied, firm, though her heart was racing.
But fate had already caught up with them. Before they could leave the village, a man appeared out of nowhere, blocking their path. He was a slave trader. The mother, weakened and powerless to fight, felt the world collapse around her.
In an instant, all three — she, Kanjis, and Lua — were captured. Fear, pain, and despair mingled in the cold morning air, while the village, indifferent, carried on as if nothing had happened.
As they were shackled, the villagers, satisfied, took the money from the trader. Some spat on the ground, looking at the woman and her children with disdain. A place once full of light and dreams now revealed its cruelty.
Mother and children were taken to a cold, damp cell. Here began the harsh life of slaves. The trader gave the mother a name: Ana. The boys were renamed Jesy and Luk.
Ana worked tirelessly every day. She fed little Luk, cared for Jesy, and prepared food for the traders, always hiding the fear and pain she felt.
During the journey, crossing a vast and unknown path, Ana was sold to a strange buyer. Jesy and Luk cried, clinging to her.
— Please… don't take us apart! — Ana pleaded, her voice breaking. She held her children tightly against her chest, trying to protect them.
The buyer raised his cold eyes and replied in a low, terrifying voice:
— For what you will endure… your children wouldn't last a minute. Do you still want to take them?
The cruel smile on his face froze Ana. With her heart shattered, she whispered to her children:
— I never… I never loved you… now forget me.
Jesy and Luk cried and screamed, desperate, trying to stop them from being torn from their mother. But there was no mercy. The separation was brutal and final.
From that moment, Ana, Jesy, and Luk learned that the world would show no mercy. Survival would be painful, ruthless, and relentless.