I slouched in my chair looking at the soggy mess on my plate mom called "dinner." "Ugh, I'm so sick of having leafy lettuce and cut up vegetables." Noor groaned, "look girls." Mom began "I know it's hard, but just know me and your father are trying really hard to get back on our feet so we can be a normal family again." Mom said, her cheeks began to turn pink, and her eyes began to water. I scrunched up my face and squeezed my eyes shut, hoping that when I opened them back up it would all be a dream; dad wouldn't have been captured, we were back in our village and we were a normal family like we used to be.
"I'm going to the porch." I said, hiding my face to block away the tears. Noor grumbled and then ran upstairs to our room. When I got outside it felt like I was dreaming, I had never been outside in so long because mom was afraid the people that captured dad would come get us. I rubbed my hands on the steel polls that held the house up. I used to hate living in this random village that nobody else was in because it was supposed to keep me and my family safe but it just makes me scared.
I looked up above, stars filled the sky. I sat on the old rocking chair and began to pray. Kabul was one of my favorite and only places I have ever been and I would make a promise to myself that I would never leave my home country of Afghanistan. Mom said I was like dad because of this, she would tell me about how she always dreamed about moving to another country or land so we could see the other side of the world. Even though it was quite obvious we would never have the time or money for that, dad would spend hours talking about how we could never leave our people behind and how we were one big family and we had to stick together.
Ever since dad has been captured part of me had hope to find him and the other part of me thought he was gone. The village automatically sent us here to this empty house on top of a hill. The house was bigger than our old house that we shared with the six other families in our village.
I continued to look up at the sky, still in shock of how pretty it was. If I had the choice I would look up at the stars for days but it was around that time when I remembered it was my day to tuck Esma into bed. Me and my 15 year old sister Noor alternate between getting Esma ready for bed. Since Esma is only six she is not able to do many things and to keep everything on point Esma is our responsibility. But I'm not complaining. Esma is my favorite sister. She is kind, easy going, funny and basically what I expect in a sister.
After I tucked in Esma to bed I strolled into the washroom to brush my teeth. I was brushing my hair when I heard a loud noise from down stairs. I first didn't think anything of it ; living in a small, cramped home you had no privacy everything you did and do was public.
I slowly walked tip-toed my way down the stairs under my first impression it was a raccoon looking for food (even if it was there was no way he would find food in our home) I clenched my fists firmly, a hint of fear kicking me in the stomach. It was hard to see threw the dark and all I could hear were a few sniffles. My sweaty yet dry hands strolled along the steel metal walls curiously when I noticed mom leaning by the counter in the kitchen/family room/living room/ dining room/basement.
"Mom?" I whispered, my eyes squinted to get a better view
"We have to go...." "Now." Mom said quietly, I could see her better now and her eyes were full with tears and sadness. I didn't know what to say, I knew someone was gonna say it but I didn't know who.
"What do you mean we have to go?" I asked, trying my hardest to get on the same page as mom.
"Were in danger, our life here is no good we must escape." Mom said, all the tears had left her face and she now stood up straight her hands folded lying on across her chest.
"A distant relative sent us four plane tickets to America, we will take a bus ride to the airport then and arrive at the airport the next morning.
"What about dad?" "The four of us will be safe but what about him?" I asked, I guess I hadn't gotten the memo yet.
"We checked everywhere he seems to not have escaped, we will keep looking but we have to learn to except whats what." Mom said smoothly, patting a seat for me on the old, dusty couch.
"But there is still hope. Right?" I asked, not wanting for a truthful answer.
"He's gone. " Mom said gently, she stroked her hands threw my thick black hair and rubbed my back as I began to cry. I was not at all surprised when Noor and Esma all came down and sat on the couch along with me and mom all looking glum. Mom reached her arms out and pulled us all in gently. I could hear the whimpers of Esma and I could feel the tears of Noor falling on my arm. I closed my eyes and let the tears fall on there own I clumped my body up in a ball and promised myself never to open my eyes back up, I didn't want to have to witness another heart breaking moment.