*Rejected and Written Off* – a gritty, raw, hopeful and lyrical re‑imagining of Michael Rwasunda's life, *based on a true story*.Born in 1987 under the bruised‑purple sky of Hwedza, Zimbabwe, Kundai grows up in a mud‑thatched hut where his mother, a nineteen‑year‑old with a spine of steel, fights drought, poverty and a violent step‑father. After a brutal night that forces his mother to flee through a shattered window, Kundai is taken in by a harsh grandmother in Headlands, where he endures endless chores, abuse and a cold, unloving home.Despite the odds, teachers like Miss Jones and Mr Matsokotere become beacons of hope, helping him escape to Dubi Farm where his mother works as a housekeeper. There, he faces another tragedy when his mother's health collapses, but her fierce love fuels his resolve. A wrongful arrest and a night in jail only strengthen his faith, and the support of a compassionate priest and a choir give him the courage to write.His raw verses evolve into short stories, eventually catching the eye of a publisher in Harare. The book, _Rejected and Written Off_, becomes a testament to survival, the unbreakable bond between mother and son, and the power of storytelling to rewrite destiny.Now, with his own children carrying the torch, Kundai continues to build a small school in his village, proving that even the darkest nights can give way to a new dawn.
