Finding Muna: A Palestinian Novel

Chapter Forty-Four

April couldn't help but ponder on how lucky they had been ever since they had arrived at Doha, Qatar only a few days ago. The safety and comfort in the city were almost unbelievable, they also gave them an unlimited supply of food, they also gave them comfortable clothes, and a shelter to stay in temporarily.

The girls originally wanted to head on to Boston from Qatar as soon as they landed, but seeing the injuries on them and knowing where they were coming from, the workers at the airport convinced them to stay for a while for them to receive the complete treatments they require.

It took a while for them to be convinced but at the end of the day, they succumbed to their persuasion. They even did a video call with Asma who was shedding hot tears as soon as she saw their faces on the screen, she was happy they were finally in a safe space but the condition which they were in saddened her a lot.

The girls have been visiting the hospital a lot, and most of their time was spent in the hospital in fact, all of their wounds were treated and a lot of tests were conducted regarding April's amputated knee, they also inspected Lamees's arm which was shot multiple times.

They found remains of glass and a bullet in her arm, and after checking to see if they could save the arm, they realized they couldn't and a surgery was done to amputate her arm after getting her consent. She hadn't been able to use the arm for a few days after the attack, and although she had been experiencing terrible pains from the arm, she didn't put much thought into it. She was more worried about Muna's disappearance and the increased attacks to worry about her arm.

She shed a few tears after her arm was amputated, she didn't believe she would live to see the day a part of her would be cut off, but she was also grateful she didn't have to lose the whole of herself in the attack.

The nights were still scary, Lamees found it very hard to sleep peacefully at night without nightmares, and even when her eyes were widely opened, she would hear the sounds of airplanes roaming above her which would make her very anxious and afraid.

She wondered how April found it very easy to adapt to the new changes, it still felt like she was in Gaza and she would have to convince herself multiple times in a day that she was safe in Doha.

They started rehabilitation therapy, and they began to adapt to their amputated parts quickly. They would also be given prosthetic parts after months of rehab.

The person supervising them spoke to Asma and requested the girls should be allowed to travel back to Boston and they would complete their treatments over there. Asma wanted the girls to be under her watch so her mind would fully be at rest, besides waiting until their rehab was completed meant that they would remain in Qatar for almost two months if not more.

Due to Asma's request, their flight to Boston was scheduled for the weekend and their treatments were rounded up at the hospital.

The week ended quickly and before they knew it, they were seated at the airport yet again, waiting for their flight while the lady appointed to follow them around went to do the necessary things on their behalf.

Everything seemed to be going their way as the process went on smoothly, they were passed and soon they boarded the plane. Time flew by quickly since their arrival to Qatar and after a whole month of treatments and rehabilitation therapy, they were heading back to their country.

Lamees has mixed feelings about returning back to America, it saddened her that America was the source of weaponry that the Israeli soldiers used to attack the Palestinians. It saddened her to think that the taxes that the average civilian pays in America would be used to fund the genocide that was taking place.

The fact that the average American civilian was supporting the Israeli state, the fact that the large economies of the world were turning their backs against humans like themselves, the fact that the large companies in America were bathing in the blood of the innocent civilians in Palestine.