The Captured

Season 02 Episode 14

Dear Readers,
I am glad you enjoyed the previous episode I was a bit nervous while writing it becs I didn't want y'all to think that this was anywhere near racism, bcs it isn't. For understanding where Anna is coming from is a relief for me.
Thank you.

Trigger warning:
Below was an image of a g@z@ kid to help audience understand the pov and did not intend to harm an individual. However it is not here anymore.

"So... How's school going? Have the summer holidays begun?"

I asked, attempting to change the subject.

"Cool... nope, not yet. But I'm not going to school, so I don't care.," she replied, spearing noodles with her fork.

"Why not?" I asked casually.

"For you," she said, measuring my tone.

I looked up from my bowl, surprised. "Me?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Why me?" I inquired, feeling a pang of curiosity.

"Because I don't want to go to school when you're home. I want to be with you all the time."

Her words touched me deeply. I managed a smile, gently reaching out to cup her cheek in my hand.

"Honey, you know I stay in my room most of the time, so it's okay if you're at school. I can't wait for you to come back, and then we can spend time together. And don't skip school for me, okay?"

"I won't skip school, but I don't have any friends there. I'd be bored. I had this friend, but she ditched me for my enemies. Now she's on their team.," she explained, pouting.

I tried not to laugh at her adorable expression.

"Sweetheart, you're too young to have enemies. Just be kind to people and make friends. And when you're in school, focus on your studies instead of worrying about others."

She shook her head, folding her small arms across her chest. "No... I'm not too young."

"Then are you an old woman with gray hair and no teeth?"

I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

She shook her head vigorously.

"No... I mean, age has nothing to do with enmity, even newborns have enemies."

"How come?" I asked, still chewing on my noodles.

Rim's next words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Did you not see newborn babies in G@za, Liby@, Syri@? And what about that other country....?" she frowned; her eyes clouded with concern.

I was taken aback by her unexpected question but tried to keep up. "Kashmir, Afghanistan?" I suggested trying to think of other war-torn regions in the eastern belt.

"Yeah, no, that too... but there's another..." She fell silent for a moment before suddenly exclaiming, "IRAQ!"

I furrowed my brows, feeling a sense of dread settling in.

"Rim, you're naming all these war-torn countries. What are you trying to say?"

She leaned forward earnestly. "You see all those babies? They're killed when they're born because they're enemies with other countries."

My heart skipped a beat. "Who are the enemies?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"Enemies are people who are scared of you, like those people in my school. They're scared of my grades because I'm more intelligent and I get all A's in English exams." Her words were innocent but revealing.