One evening, after a particularly hard day of dealing with the neighborhood's hostility, Fumi sat by the small window, humming to herself. Adora, who was mending a tear in her dress, paused to listen.
"Fumi," she said softly, "is that a song your mother taught you?"
Fumi nodded. "She used to sing it while she cooked. I do sing along with her."
"Your voice is beautiful," Adora said. "Do you know any other songs?"
Fumi hesitated, then began to sing another tune, her voice rising and falling like the ebb and flow of a river. It was clear, soulful, and filled with emotion. Adora watched in awe as the little girl lost herself in the melody.
"You have a gift, Fumi," Adora said when the song ended.
"Do you think so?" Fumi asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
"I know so," Adora said. "Your voice can touch people's hearts. Don't let anyone make you doubt that."
The next day, Adora surprised Fumi with a small, secondhand keyboard she had bought from a street vendor. The keys were chipped, and some of them stuck, but to Fumi, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"Try it," Adora said, smiling.
Fumi's fingers hesitated over the keys before pressing down. The sound was uneven, but it didn't matter. She played a simple tune, humming along as she did.
Adora clapped when she finished. "See? You're a natural."
From that day on, music became Fumi's refuge. She practiced on the keyboard for hours, creating melodies that filled their small apartment with life. Adora encouraged her, always reminding her that her talent was a blessing, not a curse.
The neighborhood children began to gather outside their window, drawn by the sound of Fumi's singing and playing. Even the adults who had once shunned them paused to listen, their judgmental stares softening into curiosity except for one of their neighbor known as mama Shola, who is always filled with bitterness and jealousy. Immediately she heard fumi's beautiful voice, she became very angry and jealous. Out of jealousy she asked fumi to shut up and accused her of disturbing the neighborhood. Fumi respected her and kept quiet.
Adora knew that Fumi's talent was something special, something that could change her life. And in her heart, she vowed to do everything she could to nurture it.
"You're going to do great things, Fumi," Adora said one evening as they sat together.
Fumi smiled shyly. For the first time in a long time, she began to believe it too.