Sotiris

Sotiris loved music more than anything in the world. Even before he could read, he could hum tunes he heard in the wind, the rain, and the busy streets of his town.

Every morning, Sotiris would pick up his small, wooden guitar—painted bright blue by his grandfather—and sit by his window. He played gentle melodies as the sun rose, imagining the notes dancing like tiny birds in the sky.

But Sotiris had one problem: he was very shy. He only played music when he was alone. Whenever people came near, he would stop and hide his guitar behind his back.

One day, something unusual happened. As Sotiris played his favorite tune, a little cat appeared outside his window. It sat quietly, listening. The next day, a bird joined. Then another. Soon, every morning, a small crowd of animals gathered just to hear Sotiris play.

Sotiris began to feel brave. “If they like my music,” he thought, “maybe others will too.”

So one afternoon, he took a deep breath, grabbed his guitar, and went to the town square. His hands trembled at first, but he remembered the cat and the birds. Slowly, he started to play.

At first, only a few people noticed. Then more stopped to listen. The music filled the square—warm, bright, and full of joy. When Sotiris finished, there was a moment of silence… and then everyone clapped!

From that day on, Sotiris wasn’t afraid anymore. He played for anyone who wanted to listen—people, animals, and even the wind.

And every time he played, his music reminded everyone that even the quietest voice can be heard—if it’s brave enough to sing. 

Photos by Takis Markopoulos and text by Vasiliki Gkavogianni