“Blind eyes cry too. In fact, that’s about the only thing they’re good for now,” says Charbel.

In a small back room of a vegetable shop, two brothers fight to hold on to their dignity. Doumith and Charbel have been blind for 30 years, yet they still run their little business. They know every curve of the wall, every uneven spot on the floor by heart. Each morning, Charbel feels the tomatoes on the vine with his hands – he knows when they ripen because their scent changes.

They are independent and proud, but they are unwell. Charbel suffers from ulcerative colitis, which without medication will lead to an obstruction. Doumith, too, needs regular medical care. The shop’s income is meager, nowhere near enough to lift them out of poverty.

Before going to bed, Charbel still moves carefully among the shelves, putting every item back in its place so his brother can find it in the morning. This routine gives them a sense of control over a life that otherwise seems to be slipping away.