A Girl From Alexandria

1.

Inside a small house in Abo Hamad; an Egyptian village in Al Sharqia (Egyptian City), a girl was moving back and forth inside her room.

"Hurry up Qamar, or we will miss the train" a voice echoed.

"Okay mom, I am coming" Qamar (means 'moon') answered, she was putting her clothes inside the bag, "I shouldn't take all this time" she said "I only have two dresses and a pair of sandals, and I am already wearing those" she laughed "Oh God, I really am poor."

She held the bag and stood in front of a small mirror hanged on the wall. In the mirror she saw a thin girl in her seventeenth, she was wearing a simple green dress that covered all her body; she had white blue eyes, and long black hair. "Hello there poor me, you sure have suffered a lot, but now... WE ARE GOING TO ALEXANDRIA" she jumped off her feet in excitement.

"Aren't you going to put on your hijab?" a young man in his twentieth was standing in front of the door; he had short beard, and thick black hair.

"Oh yes! My Hijab, I nearly forgot it, I am so stupid" she said, while she desperately tried not to laugh herself out. Then he left.

She ran to her bed and got her scarf.

"Stay there" she placed it over her hair "or my brother will kill me" she smiled sarcastically and didn't care about the front of her hair that wasn't covered.

"All right Alexandria!" her voice was close to a sharp scream "QAMAR IS COMING!!!" she carried her bag and went out of the room. When she was outside her room, she looked at the house, the cracks on the wall, the wooden round table at the center, and the two couches at the corner, these were the only furniture they had, on her right were her parents' room next to her brothers', the house was empty, and her family was already outside. She got closer to the table, and softly placed her right hand on its surface. "I will miss you table" she said. She took a final look at the house. "Goodbye housie" a smile shined on her face.

"Should I come inside and drag you from your hair honey" A voice interrupted her from outside.

"NO MOM" Qamar shouted and ran quickly to the door that was already opened.

Outside, her family was waiting, Mohamed; whom had spoken with her before. Her brother Hassan; their oldest, he was tall and strong with a mustache, which Qamar thought made him look weird. Her little sister Zahraa (means 'Flower'); she was only six, in a blue dress and was also wearing Hijab. Her mother Ehsan, she was in her forties, she was beautiful, in a black dress, and black scarf covering her hair. And finally her father Gamal, a strong man in his fifties, he had gray hair and a gray thick beard.

"Finally!" her Father shouted "Let's go, the train leaves in thirty minutes."

The station was only 10 minutes away. They started to walk, passing by their land that was already dead. Men were digging, builders were working along with the machines, and the corn field was currently a company under construction. Qamar noticed her father's sorrow; she saw a tear dropping from his eye. But she didn't talk, she didn't even try to comfort him, to get closer and tell him it was okay. Although she wanted to, she didn't have enough courage.

They were close to the station when someone shouted.

"Qamar!" a woman screamed from behind.

All the family turned to see who was calling.

"Mrs. Mariam" Qamar shouted in happiness "You came to say goodbye" she smiled and ran to the woman. Her family continued walking.

Mrs. Mariam was a Christian woman, she was young and pretty in a black skirt and white chemise, she wore glasses and had her hair combed backwards.

"I missed you already" Mrs. Mariam smiled and hugged Qamar tightly.

"I will miss you so bad" Qamar cried; her tears dropped instantly. "I know you taught me history, but you are not going to be one"

"I know sweetie, I know"

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