Chapter 1: The Journey Begins
The morning sun stretched lazily over the green hills of Kiguli, painting the village in soft gold. Birds chirped their final songs of farewell as Freddy stood beside the rusted bus that would take him to the city. A dusty brown suitcase rested at his feet—old but sturdy, packed with dreams and a few clothes.
At 21, Freddy's heart was full of quiet hope. He had always been different—gentle, observant, kind. The kind of soul that noticed the sadness in someone's eyes even when they were smiling. As the youngest son of a farming family, he had grown up in the rhythm of the land. But today, the rhythm was changing. Today, he was leaving home to chase education in a city that buzzed with strangers, stories, and unknown futures.
His mother, Maido, stood nearby, her eyes wet though her lips smiled.
"Study hard, my son," she said, adjusting the collar of his shirt like she had when he was little.
"I will," Freddy replied softly, hugging her tightly. "I'll make you proud."
Beside her, Josephine and Edah—his sisters—stood quietly, holding back tears. Freddy looked at each of them, memorizing their faces, their warmth. Solomon, his childhood friend, clapped him on the back with a grin that masked emotion.
"The city won't know what hit it," he joked.
Freddy chuckled, but his chest ached.
When the engine roared to life, Freddy climbed aboard. As the bus pulled away from Kiguli, he looked back through the dusty window. His family grew smaller with each turn of the wheel, but their love stayed with him—anchoring him in the unknown.
Ahead, the city awaited. He didn't know it yet, but this journey would not only shape his mind. It would test his heart.
Among the strangers he would meet—Sumaya with her fierce grace, Bushrah with her quiet strength, Joseph with his wisdom, and others like Mercy, Genty, Avi, and Alva—he would find friendships, challenges, and perhaps… love.
But for now, Freddy simply stared out the window, eyes wide, heart open, as the road unfolded beneath him.
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