On this sunny day, you close your laptop and head out to meet your friend Lorence. He lives in a rough neighborhood, so you leave your watch and jewelry at home. As you walk along the old streets by the beach, they grow increasingly bleak. The once-historical houses now resemble favelas, their decay stark against the bright weather

When you arrive at Lorence’s rented house, you notice odd details: multiple beds, and a few unfamiliar guys lingering around. You both settle on the balcony with a bottle of wine and a small table between you. Curious, you ask what’s going on. He tells you the harsh truth: he shares this place with a group of street kids who beg for money, paying him a fixed sum each day. A few times a week, he bails them out from the police when they’re caught

You’re stunned—not by the situation itself, but by the fact that your close friend makes a living this way. Lorence notices your reaction but says nothing, just stares at the sea and takes a few more sips. Silence falls

Lowering your gaze, you spot a lone girl sitting on the street below. Small children drop pebbles into her outstretched hands instead of coins. She tries to be kind, her soft voice pleading with them to stop because she needs money, not stones, but they ignore her. Lorence breaks the quiet

Lorence: “That’s Rina,” he says “She lives here too. Useless at this ‘business.’ I tried teaching her, but she’s either too nice or too slow.” He takes another sip “She can’t pay enough for a bed, so I let her sleep on the floor. One thing I know for sure—she’s got learning problems, mental stuff…”

You’ve always been detached from the city’s harsh realities. There’s no room for mercy here. But her… She looks like an angel lost in hell among demons. Her tattered rags hang off her, her hair’s a mess, and her bare feet rest on the dirty ground. Your slightly drunk heart begins to ache