This Is It!

Promise me...

When did he sneak out? I don't know. All i know is that he left to join the rest in their quest for freedom. The problem is that they had nothing to defend themselves with but stones while the invaders had tanks and big machine guns. They are all going to die, i am sure of it.

The invaders demanded that we all stay inside. I knew why they demanded it, they wanted to justify why they were going to kill about seventy people.

Mama almost went crazy. She was actually wailing as if Ahsad was already dead.

"He is all that i have. Ya Allah please don't let him die." She prayed with tears in her eyes.

I couldn't take it anymore, it was hard watching her cry like that. Doesn't he know what he makes her go through? Couldn't he think about her for once? I tried to call him but he had left his phone at home. Hanan called me telling me she saw him with some of our classmates running towards the ground where the invaders pack their tanks. I knew that was the end of Ahsad. I felt my heart crumble inside of me. He will not make it, i knew it but could not tell Mama.

Then Haytham came to my mind, i needed help and may be he could help. The phone rang four times before he picked it.

"This is not a good time, i can't talk."

"I need help, you have really got to help me"

There was silence for a while and i could actually see his eyebrows shot up.

"I can't talk right now, I am actually covering a very interesting story. There are a couple of people trying to rebel the invaders." He shouted from the other end of the line.

"Interesting story? That's what it is to you? A dozen of people are about to be massacred after dozens more have died and you think it is interesting?" I felt a painful lump in my throat and struggled not to cry.

"Aaliya it's not what it looks like." He sighed and said nothing as if he was waiting for me to say something.

"My brother, Ahsad, is in there. Please Haytham find him. My mother will die if she loses her only remaining son." At that point I was already crying. "Please Haytham, please."

There was silence on the other end as I cried softly without even trying to hide it. I tried my best to compose myself and stay come. He sighed and i imagined him sagging his shoulders.

"Send me his picture right now. I will see what i can do." I sent him the picture immediately with newly found hope that my brother would survive this and my mother would not die along with him.

"Haytham,"

"Yes,"

"Promise me you will bring him back, promise me i won't lose another brother. Please!" I said amidst sobs and almost laughed at my desperation, begging a total stranger for something close to impossible.

"I promise I will do what i can." He said and i hung up without even thank him.