CHAPTER ONE:
THE TRAGEDY OF
WAR
I
was twelve years old and for
the first time in a long time, my family was all together, happy,
and ready to flee Lebanon for greener pastures in Egypt. It was June
1975, as I sat in the living room enjoying a nice conversation with
my older brother, Robert.
My dreams came true when he told me
he’d help me read and write better and he would make sure I went to
college. He even asked me what I would like to study in the future.
“I want to be a defense attorney,” I told him. “I want to defend
people who are treated unfairly. Or maybe I’ll be a teacher so that
I can help children who need special attention in school.”
I
stood up and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll get your tea, Robert,” I
said with a smile on my face, elated and full of hope. And then we
can pick up where we left off. I’ll be right back.” Those were the
last words I ever spoke to my brother.
I turned my back going
toward the kitchen. Not a second later, a bomb came through the
window. I turned around. All I saw were flames and smoke. Everything
became a blur. The air was thick and hazy. My eyes began to burn. I
started coughing and gasping for air. I couldn’t breathe...
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