shadows of pain

In a village called Nayenemeyan in Kakuma town, there lived three siblings named Arisiya, Losaja, and Mercy. They were once happy children who lived in town with their loving parents. Their home was full of laughter, care, and warmth despite the struggles life brought them.Mercy, the youngest child, had been born with HIV, a condition she got from her mother at birth. But her parents never treated her differently. They loved her deeply, cared for her every day, and never missed giving her medicine. Her mother always reminded her that she was just like every other child and deserved happiness and love.But their peaceful life came to a sudden and painful end when their parents died in a terrible car accident.The tragedy left the children alone in the world with nowhere else to go. Soon after the funeral, they were taken to Nayenemeyan village to live with their uncle, Ekitela, and his wife, Lepo.Ekitela was known as a quiet man with a kind heart. He rarely argued with people and always avoided conflict. His wife, however, was feared throughout the village. Lepo was known for her sharp tongue, cruel words, and cold heart. No one dared to provoke her because she insulted anyone who crossed her path.From the very first day the children arrived, life became difficult.Lepo never wanted them in her home, especially Mercy, whom she saw as a burden because of her illness. Due to her ignorance and lack of education about HIV, Lepo believed the disease could spread through touching Mercy, sharing plates, or even staying near her.She forced Mercy to sleep separately from everyone else and often shouted at the other children whenever they cared for her.Rumors spread through the village like wildfire.“That child has HIV.”“Stay away from her.”“Do not touch anything she uses.”The whispers followed the children everywhere.Lepo’s cruelty grew worse with time. She hid Mercy’s medicine and refused to give it to her regularly. She gave the children very little food and forced Arisiya and Losaja to work from early morning until late at night.Every day before sunrise, the two boys walked long distances to Tarach River to fetch water. The road was dusty and exhausting, but they had no choice. After returning home, they washed clothes, cleaned the compound, collected firewood, cooked, and continued doing chores until they were too tired to stand.Slowly, the children became thin and weak.Mercy suffered...