Read the following excerpt from a contemporary novel:
"On the surface, the city appeared to be in the grip of an eternal twilight, the low-hanging clouds casting a gray pallor over the run-down buildings. Yet, beneath this gloomy facade, the hearts of its inhabitants throbbed with an indefatigable hope. Every day, people emerged from their dilapidated homes, their footsteps echoing against the cobblestones, carrying dreams of a better future, no matter how distant it seemed. Children played in the narrow alleyways, their laughter ringing vibrant and alive amid the starkness, a testament to resilience in a land that often felt like a defeated realm."
In this context, which of the following details most strongly supports the main idea of the passage regarding the nature of the city's inhabitants?