My oh my. Life's hard, ain't it? One day you're just a haggling old woman; the next, you're a guardian to two kids who ain't even your own. Well, welcome to my life. I'm Meriti; just Meriti will do. I've seen more sunsets than I care to count, and my temper, well, it's as short as the winter day. But these kids, Nefiri and her little brother, Hote, they soften the old bones somehow. They've got grit, I'll give 'em that, especially Nefiri. Reminds me of myself at her age.