Shadow of Resistance

Chapter Twenty Eight

I race through the street, barely able to breathe as dust and smoke choke the air. When I reach our building, my heart sinks, it's reduced to a pile of rubble. Panic grips me as I sprint toward the debris, shouting, "Mum!" over and over again.

There's no response, but I can't stop calling her name. This can't be the end. I can't imagine life without her. I collapse to my knees, tears streaming down my face. Just then, I hear my name faintly from beneath the rubble. I spring to my feet and dash toward the sound.

I spot her hand emerging from the rubble, the rest of her body trapped beneath the debris. Grasping her hand tightly, I whisper, "I'm here, Mum. I'm going to get you out."

I try to lift the rocks above her, but they won't budge, they are too heavy. I try again, and again, but the rocks refuse to move even an inch.

"The rocks are too heavy, Kareem. There's a whole wall on top of me. It's impossible to get me out," she says, her voice trembling.

"I won't give up, Mum. I will get you out." I insist, determination burning in my voice.

I grab my phone and dial the emergency number.

"My mum is trapped alive under the rubble! We need help immediately!" I shout as soon as the call connects.

"There have been several bombings in different locations. Tell me your location, and we'll dispatch a team as soon as possible." the operator responds.

I quickly give him our location, then drop the phone and return to the rubble, straining with everything I have to lift the rocks. "I called the ambulance, Mum! They're on their way!" I yell.

"There is no time for that, stop wasting the remaining time trying to lift these rocks and hold my hand." she says.

I hold her hand and press it to my lips. "Yes, I'm with you." I say, my voice breaking as tears stream down my face.

"Hey, it's okay. Everything's going to be fine," she whispers, her tone steady despite the situation. "You're old enough now. You have to take care of your siblings and support them and I'm sure you are capable of that."

"You're going to get out of here, Mum. You're not going to die, okay?" I insist, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.

"Trust me, everything will be fine," she continues, her voice trembling, growing weaker. "You might face some tough days ahead, but remember, no matter how bad it gets, everything passes." She pauses, her breath shallow. "Do you remember the song I always sing, Raweq wa Haddy?"

"Yes," I manage to say between sobs.

"Let's sing it together while holding hands," she says softly. We begin singing the most cheerful and peaceful song contrasting starkly with the darkest moment of my life. Her voice grows weaker with each passing second, until it fades away. I hear her say the Shahada, and then there's only silence. Her grip on my hand loosens.

"Mum!" I scream, pouring all my fear and pain into that single word, but there's no reply.

I can't believe she's gone, just when I thought I had a second chance to be with her after everything. Two years of prison, and I didn't even get to spend enough time with her, didn't even get to make up for the days I lost. But at least I was able to say goodbye, to hold her hand one last time.

But how am I going to tell my siblings? How would they deal with it? I'm sure this would break their hearts.

I sit by the rubble, clutching her hand, tears streaming down my face until the ambulance arrives. The rescue team searches for any survivors first then they get her body out carefully. When I finally see her face, she's smiling a peaceful, gentle smile, as if she left this world without fear, without pain. It gives me strength, a reminder that she's in a better place now, far from the cruelty, injustice, and the suffering of this world.

After they removed the large wall, I searched for the old ancient key between the rubble. The moment my eyes fall on it I pick it up and press it against my chest.

I walk back to her and as I gaze at her, I hear the screech of brakes behind me. Omar jumps out of the car and rushes toward us. But when his eyes fall on her, he stops dead in his tracks. His face contorts with a mixture of shock and denial, as if his mind can't fully grasp the reality of what's in front of him, desperately trying to reject the truth.

I pull him into a tight hug, whispering, "Look how she is smiling. God chose her to be a martyr."

When I pull back and meet his gaze, I see a single tear roll down his stunned face. Then I notice the back door of the car slowly opening, and the girls stepping out, their innocent eyes scanning the scene. Panic surges through me as I leave Omar and rush to them, wrapping them in my arms, to shield them from the heartbreaking sight.

"I told you to leave them at Sarah's," I say, my voice trembling with a mix of frustration and sorrow.

"They insisted on coming back with me," Omar replies, his voice cracking. "I... I didn't think this would happen." Tears spill down his cheeks as he breaks down.

I take a deep breath then I say gently. "It's okay." I turn to the girls, kneeling down to their level. "Listen, girls, God chose Mum to be a martyr. She's in heaven now, there is no better place we could wish for her. We have to be happy for her and keep her in our prayers."

They both try to get out of my grip to look at her. I hold them tighter, not wanting them to witness the scene. "Let's leave the ambulance to do their job and take her to the mosque and we will follow them to pray for her." I say gently.

I drive after the ambulance to the mosque and we hear several bombings near us on our way. We reach there safely and we pray the Janaza prayer before taking her to the graveyard. We bury her and gather around her grave to pray. As the sun sets, we stay by her side, reciting the Quran she helped us memorise. When darkness falls and we can no longer stay at the gravesite, we reluctantly search for a place to rest, feeling the weight of our loss but holding onto the peace that she is finally at rest.