As I creak through my door, I breathe quietly gasping for air in this tense time. The thought of feeling the cozy sand and marvellous water rushing through my legs was a fantasy; this vision was inconceivable. As I shut the door, the wicked sound explodes through my ear. My name is Aashna and right now I’m petrified.
I put my Burqa on and slide my sandals on to my distressed, crooked feet. I gently move my leg to just reach the cold bricks, and I see it - the boat that will release me from this hell hole - the boat to escape. I take a quick peek to see if they are out there. Where I live, girls like me are not permitted to go outside.
The silver sky and effervescent water used to look resplendent; until the blood of the shot men seeped into it. The moon shines onto the beach and exhibits hope in many forms. The bright light symbolises that there are other places than this, a place where I can be accepted, a place where I can call home. I ponder what is beyond this small horizon.
Finally, the adrenaline rush strikes me. I will be running 100 metres to get to a boat. My family are already there, safe, but I am a 17 year old running for my life. I need to think this through - how am I going to make it there - how am I going to survive? I reach all the way to the sand brick wall and sneak look - I am safe, I can run.
I see my petite mother looking at me, she is showing a clearly distressed look of apprehension - I am the future of the Gulmamad family - I have to survive. I reassure myself that I have the money that I collected at the market. I will buy food from other people on the boat. I am ready, I can do it.
My heart starts racing rapidly, 3, 2, 1, and I start sprinting. My feet are thumping firmly on the cold floor and I am running as swiftly as I can. I look at my family. My mother is weeping because of the tension, my baby sister is sleeping and my dad arguing with another man. All I am thinking is “I can do it!”
I immediately halt to a huge shatter; red flames explode everywhere, black smoke appears and demolishes the light, screaming commences; someone must have stood on a mine. I start crying, I can’t cope; the stress and anxiety becomes too much. I begin to run again, this time I block out all noises and surroundings, I start making music in my head and I run to the beat. I gently close my eyes.
I open my eyes and I have reached it - the boat, I start crying of joy. I am going to be able to live a life I have always considered but never thought would be a reality. My name is Aashna and I am going on a refugee boat to escape the Taliban and Afghanistan. I am going to secretly move to Australia. But my journey on the boat will be a whole other story.
