The Migration (A Boy Story)

Part 14

It was after I got to Austria that I understood that discussion between the woman and that brown man we met at Agadez. Therapy has been great and Dr. Fawaz is helping me get back to who I'm. I now understand that sometimes life plays cards on us and we dance to its drums and guitars and then sleep in the wood of its drama. I now understand that we suffer more in thinking than in reality. He said some neurons in my brain trigger all I've been going through. I've been on more medications and hoping to experience the good things of life. May Allah help me.

At the park benches were all around and we sat in front of the man and the woman. Ummi clung to Faiz and I held our bags. She wasn't saying anything, it was after her death I understood what she'd been saying to me and Faiz that time. The man wore a brown slick shirt and pair of trousers that looked like he was a bohemian and she dressed almost like him but with longer hair uncovered and she had henna on her long fingers. I'm sharing this for no reason. You might not understand why too but because I need to update my journal you're here to read it.

An ice-cream van drooled outside, children going to camps walked the street. Their walks thumping and telling me stories. I knew I needed to snap out of it. I knew I needed to focus on the story at hand.

When she started questioning him it was with abuse.

"Will you keep quiet, you deadbrain."

He laughed. "If I'm deadbrain we won't be having this conversation again, Lara."

"I've been working here as a doctor for four years now. I know what I'm talking about. The people aren't getting the best in treatment. Most can't even afford it. Look, we just have to turn them away."

"I get that but still humans need to strive to be competitive." He said.

"They stopped us from using psychedelics. Psychedelics are known to help with mental illness. I'm not against the high standards they've set, what I'm against is making it about profit such that local medicines are discouraged because no one profits from them."

"I don't like the idea of the high prices too but the fact that real healthcare was available to our ancestors, I'll not accept that. The available care then was also only available to a select few who could afford it. Many died because they couldn't and they mostly used herbs and psychedelics."

"We need a better system, Dayo. We need one. People are dying because they can't pay for Medicare. Those at the top who are supposed to help are benefiting from it. I just want to see a better world."

"I understand, Lara and that's what I think everyone should want too."

Listening to them that moment and after we got on the bus to Diffa they started talking more about things I don't know. Ummi was there quiet and the road seemed endless. My moodiness was high then and somehow I only wished to be one with the road. I have said this before.

"Driver, can you tune down the radio a little? Can't get what my friend here is saying well and that child is sleeping."

The driver turned it down and waved to them to continue talking. He never really said anything from the start of the journey just like the roads too. We've been seeing lands and few people who aren't saying anything too.

"Thank you. Lara, what are you saying again?"

"See, humans need a new way of viewing things. No doubt we've tried but…"

"But what?"

"You also know the first robot fighters were used by Turkey in Libya. Then I found out that the shortage of goods like second hand cars and steel and gas is being caused by a shortage in chips."