Every morning at dawn, Grandpa Syarifudin sets up his small shoemaking stall by the roadside. He sits on a worn-out stool, waiting for customers, but the streets remain quiet. Some days, he earns just Rp10,000—barely enough for a meal. Other days, he goes home with nothing, forced to borrow just to survive.

At 61 years old, he still works from morning until evening, rain or shine. His small rented room costs Rp600,000 per month, but with his declining income, paying rent has become impossible. He’s already months behind, and eviction looms over him.

His two children, Putri and Febri, live far away, struggling with their own financial burdens. Febri’s high school diploma remains withheld due to unpaid school fees. Grandpa Syarifudin wishes he could help, but his own hardships leave him powerless.

Despite his pain and exhaustion, he never complains. When business is slow, he finds comfort in reading the Quran between repairs. He never misses his prayers, even when his body aches from long hours of sitting on the hard pavement.

But faith alone cannot shield him from the harsh realities of life. His workspace floods when it rains, leaving him cold and drenched. Once, a customer’s shoes were stolen, and he had to compensate for the loss despite barely having enough for himself.

“I’m old, but I still have to work just to eat,” he says with a weary smile.

Grandpa Syarifudin has no choice but to keep going. But perhaps, with a little kindness, he won’t have to struggle alone.

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