Description

Rafael is the sturdiest Black man among all these characters. Tall and broad-shouldered, he cuts the figure of a solid stone wall. By contrast, he possesses a gentle temperament. His eyes always glint softly, and he speaks in a low murmur, careful not to disturb anyone around him.

He takes his 4-year-old autistic son everywhere he goes. Most of the time, the boy sits quietly on his father’s lap, seldom glancing at other people. Every now and then, the little boy lets out some irritating noises. Rafael keeps close watch over his son constantly — not out of nervous anxiety, but out of an instinct forged through four full years of company and care.

Canada is their final destination. “Better supportive resources are available there,” he tells me. “Doctors suggest my son need more professional support and a stable living environment, something our country fails to provide.”

He used to serve as a top salesman at a travel agency. “I’ve sold numerous travel packages,” he said, “to couples, family groups and retired seniors alike. I know every client’s personal preference perfectly well.” There is not a hint of boastfulness in his tone as he speaks; he is merely recounting chapters of his former life.

A devout believer in God, he holds firm faith: “God will not lead me down this path in vain,” he remarks. “Every single step, however tough and difficult, holds its unique meaning.” Talking with him, I could feel a genuine inner strength emerging from his words, and this set of faith is the sole motivation pushing him forward all the way.

He rarely says much about his son. “He seldom talks, yet somehow I can sense that he is trying to express himself.” He has no detailed plans for the future, and simply longs to offer his little boy a better growing environment. “If he can attend regular school, make friends, and be fully accepted by others,” he says firmly, “then every hardship will be worthwhile.”

I spot one line from his interview records: “My dream is to run a fashionable sneaker shop.” Curious, I ask him what inspires this wish.

“When I worked in sales back then, I realized shoes bring people simple joy,” he replies. “Slip on a brand-new pair, and instantly you feel like a whole new person. If I could own a shop of my own and pass that small happiness on to more people… wouldn’t that count as a precious fortune too?”

Not a hint of weariness could be heard in his tone. A vivid image emerges and lingers endlessly in my mind: this stalwart father carrying his reserved little boy on his back, travelling thousands of miles afar, whispering his humble dream of opening a shoe shop.