Shadow of Resistance

Chapter Ten

After we drink our tea, my aunt opens the Awda cookies box. The Awda factory is a palestinian factory that makes the most delicious sweets from biscuits to cookies and ice cream. Their best product for me is the cookies, they make soft and sugary cookies that are filled with high quality chocolate. It is just perfect.

I was so addicted to their cookies a couple of years ago that I was used to eating them everyday. I even shared the dream that every child of Gaza has, which is winning the golden ticket and visiting the factory. It is our Willy Wonka dream here in Gaza.

While we are eating the cookies, Mariam starts crying and Jasmine follows her. My aunt's head falls down frustrated and says "Oh please. Why are you crying now? You have just eaten and I changed your diapers a couple of minutes ago."

"Don't worry, leave it on me this time" My mother says as she stands and walks to them.

She holds both of them together and starts rocking them gently while she sings. Her voice fills the room with a new song she adores and listens to frequently. I find myself captivated by it too, it's really enchanting. It is called "Raweq wa Haddy" by Sol band, a palestinian band.

It carries a soothing and uplifting message. The song name means calm down and relax. It tells us to let go of our worries and stress. The lyrics remind us that life is too short to be overwhelmed by troubles. Instead, we should find peace in quiet moments and allow ourselves to be light and free. The song suggests embracing stillness and inner calm, especially when life feels chaotic or heavy. It's a gentle reminder to breathe, take things slowly, and focus on serenity to navigate through life's storms.

Once mum starts singing, they stop crying and both of them look at her with wide surprised eyes and open mouths. They look very cute especially when they start closing their eyes slowly as she sings until they sleep. She puts them back in their chairs, and moves the chairs to another room.

When she returns, we sit on the coach and we open the TV to watch a movie together as we usually do in our gatherings. We found an Egyptian comedy movie starring Ahmed Mekky and Donia Samir Ghanem. It is my first time to see it, but my expectations are high cause both of them are the stars of my favourite series.

The movie starts and it actually looks funny, but I can hardly focus on it while I am holding my phone texting Sarah. I hate using my phone while watching a movie especially when it is the first time, but this is Sarah sooo I guess one time won't harm.

We share details about our day, discussing meals and family gatherings. I tell her about each member of my family, especially the new cute little members, and she does the same. She doesn't have siblings but she has a lot of cousins of her age. Everything was going well until she sent this message.

"Also, there is my cousin Omar. He's the funniest guy I know. Today, I laughed so hard I almost cried, he's truly hilarious."

The funniest? I don't know if she is trying to make me jealous or not but it is working. I don't want to show her that I am jealous as I haven't confessed my feelings to her yet, but I can't hold myself back.

"Looks like you and your cousin are close" I type. I hope this doesn't show that I am jealous or I actually think it does but I send anyway.

"No, not really. We see each other on special occasions only." she sends.

Her message quells the flames of my jealousy, and I put my phone away, trying to focus on the movie instead.

We spend the night at my grandmother's and head back home the next day.