Aluna jerked her head up and gasped in pain. She had fallen asleep with her neck in a funny position, and the sudden movement had really hurt.

The house was pitch black, except for one corner where a ball of light like a candle flame flickered. It seemed to be whispering.

Aluna got up and walked over to the flame.

The whispers got louder.

"Kenya!" Aluna's voice echoed silently, "be careful!"

Aluna cupped the light in her hands and stared at it. The memory of Aluna, walking home from her tap with a bucket of water on her head, while Kenya attempted to balance a bowl of water on hers.

Aluna smiled. She remembered that day.

That was the last day Kenya came with her to collect water.

A tear slid down Aluna's cheek.

The tear glinted in the firelight as it fell.

Time seemed to slow as the tear

The tear and the flame collided, and the light disappeared with a scream that belonged to her sister's dying body.

Aluna rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times.

The early morning light was peeking through the door, bringing with it a dusty warm breeze. The rest of her family was still asleep.

But something felt off.

The door was always shut tightly at night. Why was it open?

Aluna stood up, her neck aching. She made her way over to the water tank and set up a pot of water to start boiling. Her stomach grumbled.

She made her way over to the small cupboard where they kept all of their things, including the food, to grab some leftover cassava.

Aluna gasped. She slammed the cupboard shut and took a few steps back.

"Aluna?" her mother had woken up and was staring at her.

"It's gone! Everything! The book, the food, the money! Even Lerato!" Aluna wiped a tear from her eye.

Lerato was a ragged and dirty stuffed toy her father found her when she was a child. She had lots of precious memories with that toy.

"Someone broke in," Aluna stared at her mother, terrified.

* * *

"And now we have no money or food. And Lerato, the only thing left of my father is gone. We have nothing."

Jaheem gave Aluna a sympathetic look.

"This has been happening a lot, recently," Jaheem sighed, "People all over the village have been reporting stolen possessions. But no-one knows who's been doing it."

Aluna was shocked. Who could be doing this? Why were they doing this?

"Have they robbed you?" She asked.

"Not yet, but they'll most likely be coming soon.

Aluna's stomach growled. She was starving, she hadn't eaten properly in ages.

She sighed. She wished she lived somewhere else. She had heard stories of girls who wore beautiful beaded silk dresses with necklaces of diamonds and gold, scoffing themselves with fruit and meat until they could eat no more, living in huge houses of marble and polished stone with huge grassy gardens.

How Aluna wished to be one of those girls.

The pair stared down at the cracked ground of the dried watering hole. What were they going to do? Without food or money, they would all surely die.

Aluna began to tear up. She was scared. Scared of the future. Scared of what she might have to do to help her family.

She shuddered. This was scary, living where she lived.

Why couldn't those lucky people in other parts of the world help them?

"So when are you leaving?"

"In a few weeks."

Aluna and Jaheem spun around.

Two men were standing a few meters behind them, talking.

"Hopefully, my family can find a better life in South Africa," one man said.

"Do you mind if my family tag along? I really think you're onto something," The other added.

"Yeah, sure."

Another man came over and joined in. "Could we come too?" He asked.

"Of course," the first man smiled.

"How about we propose to the whole village that we all go?"

"Great idea!"

"Let's do it!"

The three men went their separate ways, and Jaheem and Aluna looked at each other.

"South Africa?" Jaheem asked.

"I think my mum said it's the richest country in Africa," Aluna answered.

"Do you think your family will go?"

"I don't know." Aluna sighed.

She wanted to go. She wanted to get out of this village. She wanted a better life.

Aluna looked up.

"I should get home," she mumbled and stood up.

"Ok. See you tomorrow!" Jaheem smiled and watched her leave.

As Aluna made her way through the dusty streets, she pondered on what she had just heard. Would her family leave for South Africa?