En famille

At a bustling Saturday near the Bercy gate, a line of carts waits to slip into Paris before the Sunday rush. Among the hulking wagons sits a modest, patched‑up carriage—a tattered canvas roof, a makeshift harness, and a weary yet stubborn donkey named Palikare. A young girl, barely twelve, keeps a vigilant eye on the animal, her sharp gaze and quiet dignity contrasting with the surrounding chaos.

Inside the cramped vehicle, a mother rests on a thin mattress, her voice soft but urgent as she tends to her child’s worries. Together they watch the slow procession, aware of the long wait for the tollgate and the uncertain road ahead. Their modest hopes and quiet perseverance hint at a journey that will test both their resolve and the bonds that hold them together.