Finding Muna: A Palestinian Novel

Chapter Forty-Five

"Returning home without Muna feels like an injustice," Lamees turned her head to face April as April spoke with a sigh, staring at the vacant seat beside her.

"I have been trying to distract my mind from it ever since we left Gaza, but it is getting to me the most right now when its barely ten minutes left to land," April huffed out frustratingly as she rubbed her palm over her face while Lamees just watched her silently, taking in her words.

"We left America together and we should be returning here together. Although I'm not sure I want to keep on living in America knowing all my taxes will be used to fund the genocide," April said with a shake of her head as Lamees sighed and turned her head back to the window, watching as they neared the ground with each passing second.

Saying that she was happy that she was safe once again would be an understatement, after all that happened at Gaza, she knew not to ever take anything for granted ever again in her life, and her heart had softened even more for the people suffering not only in Gaza, but around the world.

Lamees never knew she would end up having such a perspective to life, anything can befall anyone at any time, no one is above the disasters the world can offer, and even if the danger is not directly aiming at one, God can cause one to go to where the disaster is themselves; just like in her own case.

The airplane lowered slowly and she heard the pilot's voice through the intercom telling them yet again to fasten their seatbelts.

Lamees lifted her hand and ran it over the smooth part of her other arm which had been amputated and almost completely healed, it didn't occur to her how she would live with an almost dead arm while in Gaza, but now that her mind had calmed a bit, she knew adjusting to a new life would be a bit tasking. And while she thought of that, she pitied April who had been living with an amputated leg, with a condition worse than hers, so instead of thinking about how hard it would be, she resorted to thanking God.

A person with complete limbs and body was blown off to nothingness right before her eyes, how dare she complain having lost only an arm.

Lamees jerked slowly in shock as the airplane touched the ground and pursed her lips, she had mixed feelings about getting back to America, but she knew she would do everything in her to support the oppress as long as she lived.

It took a few minutes after landing before the airplane stopped, and after a few more minutes, the pilot spoke through the intercom and the passengers begun to leave the airplane. The duo sat in their spot, waiting for everyone to leave before they finally stood up and proceed to leave the airplane with a single backpack slung on Lamees's shoulders.

Lamees held on to April to support her as she walked with her single crutch, the both of them walked in silence as they walked through the familiar walls of the airport, and after almost ten minutes of walking, they got to the arrival section of the airport.

What the duo weren't expecting was the swam of people waiting for them at the arrival's sections with grin on their faces, signal board in their hands, keffiyeh on their necks and the Palestinian flag in their hands, screaming and rooting as soon as they spotted the girls, catching them unaware and shocked at the scene before them.

As the duos eyes rummaged around the crowd, reading the world on each board and hugging different people as they approached them, it wasn't long before tears gathered in their eyes and they started to cry.

Security men soon came around and separated the girls from the crowd to guard their safety, Lamees saw Asma navigate her way through the crowd to get to them.

"Asma!" Lamees called out.

"April, Asma's here," Lamees said tapping on April's shoulder and pointed at the lady forcing her way through the crowd. Asma finally freed herself from the crowd and then April told one of the security men to allow her to get to them, and as soon as she did, she took the both of them into a tight embrace and shed tears of joy.