When was the last time Rasoa had felt full of energy? It had been a few months. Maybe when she was at the festival of the dead in one of the neighbouring villages? At the festival where the dead are honoured and taken from their graves, she had met Olivier. He had turned her head - and then robbed her of any chance of a promising future when he left her only a short time later after learning of her condition.
So now Rasoa was alone - underneath her heart the child of a man who had taken advantage of her. At least she had her mother and sisters. Not a given - one of her friends had been expelled by the family after they found out she was pregnant. Despite everything, Rasoa felt alone and hopeless; nine months after that evening that had started so beautifully.