Chapter 137 A glimmer of hope

Antonio, too, became a regular fixture in Mariama's nights. He would often invite her to sit with him during his breaks, and their conversations became a welcome respite from the chaos of the bar. One night, as the crowd had thinned out and the hour was late, Antonio opened up more than usual. "You know," he said, his fingers idly strumming his guitar, "I had dreams once. Big dreams. I was gonna be a famous musician, play in all the big cities of Europe." Mariama leaned in, intrigued. "What happened?" Antonio's smile was bitter. "Life happened. Bad decisions, worse company. I fell in with some guys who promised to make me a star. Turned out they were just looking for a patsy to take the fall for their schemes." He strummed a melancholy chord. "By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. I owed money to people you don't want to owe money to. And Enzo... well, let's just say he offered me a way to pay off my debts. One night at a time." Mariama felt a surge of empat