Kalin entered the coffee shop the next morning, his heart full of hope, yet unaware of what awaited him.
The worker, who had seemed friendly at first, now smiled slyly, his eyes glinting with a hint of cruelty.
"Alright, let's see what you can do," he said sternly, gesturing for him to start working immediately.
Every movement of Kalin was closely monitored, and every small mistake was met with a sharp scolding or a light strike on his hand.
Throughout the day, Kalin hardly got any break.
He carried cups, cleaned tables, polished the floor—each step a new test of patience and endurance.
With every blow, he felt physical pain, but the greater pain was in his heart—the suppressed sorrow of everything he had endured at home, the helplessness, and the fear of losing his family.
Yet something else kept him going:
The eyes of his little sister watching from afar, trying to understand everything. Whenever a cup fell or he forgot something, she would step in to defend him, whispering:
"Brother, don't let them hurt you!"
Kalin smiled at her gently, despite everything happening around him.
He knew he had to endure it all—not just for himself, but for her.
Midway through the day, the worker accidentally threw a cup of coffee, shouting angrily:
"Why does this crap keep happening? Are you stupid?"
Exhausted, Kalin gathered all his strength and quickly reorganized the tables, but the worker was not satisfied:
"This is not enough!" he yelled.
With every shout and every small mistake, Kalin felt tears threatening to fall, but he suppressed them in his heart and returned to work without stopping.
He knew this was the true test of life, and that real strength only appeared through endurance and patience.
By the end of the day, despite exhaustion and hunger, Kalin stood, looking at his little sister with a smile:
"Tomorrow… will be better."
He knew that the harshness of the coffee shop was only the beginning, and that every strike and shout was teaching him how to be stronger.
The Payment
At the end of the long, grueling day, the worker approached Kalin with a stern tone:
"Here… this is your day's pay. Take what you deserve."
Kalin reached out to take the money, but he noticed something strange—the amount was far too little for the hard work he had done.
"Is this all?" Kalin asked quietly but firmly.
The worker smiled coldly and said,
"Did I tell you that this is your full right? If you try to argue, you'll get yourself into trouble."
Kalin took the money silently, feeling a fire of anger inside his chest.
He didn't say a word, only looked at his little sister standing beside him, her eyes full of trust and support.
He said quietly,
"Alright… I'll take it."
He walked out of the shop, his heart heavy with exhaustion and pain, but deep down he knew something important:
Cruelty is not the end of the road; it is the beginning of true strength, revealed through endurance and patience.
At that moment, his little sister's eyes spoke volumes:
"You can do it… no matter how hard it gets."
Kalin took a deep breath and stepped outside, ready to face whatever awaited him in a larger, harsher world—a world that would show no mercy… but would make him stronger.
The Lost Way Home
After leaving the shop, Kalin felt exhausted, yet determined to return home with his little sister.
But with every step, the streets began to look different… unfamiliar, and the dim lights offered no guidance.
"Brother… where are we?" his little sister asked, her voice trembling, tears shining in her eyes.
Kalin felt his chest tighten with fear and shock… he didn't know how to get back home.
Every corner, every street seemed to drift further away, and the night grew darker.
He tried to remember the way, but exhaustion and the day's events muddled his mind.
Their home was now far away, and they had no shelter.
He looked at his sister, her tears rolling down her cheeks, her voice trembling:
"What do we do now, brother…?"
For the first time, Kalin felt helpless, his heart heavy with sorrow… yet he realized something important:
They could not go back, and there was no safe place now.
He took a deep breath, holding her hand firmly, and said with calm determination:
"Don't worry… we'll be together, and we'll get through this. Now, we have to find our way on our own."
This marked the beginning of a new life for them, a life of homelessness and self-reliance.
Despite the fear and tears, there was a small glimmer of light:
True courage only emerges when facing danger and uncertainty together.
With every step into the dark streets, Kalin felt something deep in his heart:
Even if they lost everything… they would never lose each other.
Parents' Despair
Back at home, their mother wept without ceasing, her cries filling the house with grief and worry.
"Where are they?!" she shouted, wiping her tears, but finding no answer.
The father tried to appear strong, but he was powerless, not knowing what to do.
He went out once, then again, asking neighbors, passersby, anyone who might have seen his children,
but no matter where he went, Kalin and his little sister were nowhere to be found.
Every passing minute deepened the mother's sense of despair,
and the father felt hopeless… as if all hope had vanished along with them.
Outside, the dark streets, the cold winds, and the uncertainty surrounded Kalin and his sister,
yet despite the fear and tears, Kalin's heart was filled with new determination:
He would not let anything break their will, and he would not lose hope, even if the world seemed cruel