SULWE

Sulwe means star, the kind that appears in the midnight sky. And who wouldn't want to have a name like that and shine like a celestial star? For Sulwe none of this mattered because she had no friends and someone without friends is not happy at all. What Sulwe really wanted was to shine like another star: the sun, radiant like the midday light.
 
Saddened by her skin as dark as night, the girl didn't look like anyone in her family and the other children made fun of her, calling her names that imprisoned her in her little dome of dissatisfaction. Determined to lighten her skin, Sulwe tried everything: the biggest eraser she had, light-colored foods and even her mother's makeup.
 
After not having her prayer answered by God, the little girl opens her heart to her mother who presents her with the most beautiful story about being proud of herself. Since her name means star, her brightness and beauty were in herself. Her mind and her heart were responsible for the real beauty that went beyond what the mirror showed and what the eyes of others saw.
 
Sulwe learned that day and night, each with its own characteristics, need to exist together. The day so that people have energy to work, study and play. And the night so people can rest, sleep and dream. Sulwe also learned that the night manifests itself in the day through shadows and the day manifests itself in the night through the rays of moonlight.
 
The little star understood that her beauty is unique. She felt radiant and strong to face anything because she knew that her brilliance was capable of taking her anywhere. And if she still needed to remember her strength, all she had to do was look up at the sky in the darkest moment of the night to see herself.