Eric Lafforgue is an experienced explorer. He has traveled to many regions of the world, and now it’s rare to catch him off guard.
However, a recent trip to Ethiopia deeply imprinted in his memory. Near one of the bars, Eric encountered an extraordinary child.
At first glance, the child didn’t stand out from others, but as he approached, Eric was captivated by the young boy’s gaze.
The little café revealed eyes of a vivid azure blue, quite unusual for individuals of the same ethnicity.
The seasoned traveler wanted to learn more about the young boy.
It turned out his name was Abash, and he lived in a hut near the location where Eric Lafforgue was conducting his research.
The boy’s eyes had an unusual pale blue tint caused by a rare congenital genetic condition, affecting only about one in 300,000 people.
When Abash was born, his parents were frightened, assuming their son had a visual impairment.
Due to lack of financial resources, they couldn’t afford to consult an expert.
They had to wait several months before realizing their child could actually see correctly.
Eventually, the parents concluded that the blue eyes were not a punishment as they initially thought, but rather a gift!
However, the boy’s uniqueness brought him many difficulties.
Abash often feels intimidated by other children because of the color of his eyes.
He is constantly teased by his peers, who call him “artificial eyes,” which he finds unbearable.
When Abash was eight years old, his parents decided to entrust him to his grandmother, so he could live close to the city where the school is located.
One night, a fire broke out in their small house. All their modest belongings and books turned to ashes. Fortunately, the grandmother and the young boy managed to escape in time and remained unharmed.
Afterward, the boy chose to live in the city since the fire had destroyed his already meager savings, making it impossible to afford a daily bus ticket to visit his grandmother’s village.
As Eric drove Abash to his new home, the boy felt extremely embarrassed. “It’s dirty here,” he whispered, pointing to the cardboard box that served as his bed.
The young man’s subsistence relies on the kindness of the restaurant owners across from his house.
Abash considers his red ball as his most precious possession. He cherishes it as an authentic treasure that he never parts with.
The young man is passionate about football and faithfully attends all Barcelona matches, watching them in a nearby restaurant or bar.
Messi is his idol, and he adores him. “We have many similarities. We are not like the others, the two of us.”
