The Truest Soldier-Islamic Life Story

Chapter Three

Asima grinned at the paper in front of her. She'd managed to pass the physical exam. She pressed the paper to her chest, feeling weightless. Her dreams were finally becoming reality.

"You're a stupid girl," her mother shouted after Asima had announced the army had accepted her with a date saying when she was being transferred for basic training. "Muslims don't join America's side. Don't you know what they've done to our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan? In Iraq? And you want to go help them suffer?"

"Not everybody is guilty of war crimes," Asima said bitterly. It was wrong to argue with her mother while she was so angry, but her American pride was getting the better of her. "The army does help them!"

"Those soldiers are not innocent," her mother snapped. "You're believing lies!"

Asima crossed her hands over her chest. "You know what, I don't care. I'm going!"

"Go ahead! See if I care! When you're dead body comes back to us I'll make sure Adil knows what an obedient sister you were!"

Asima gritted her teeth. Of course her mother would use him against her. Adil, Asima's eldest sibling, was severely ill. He'd been recently hospitalized in critical condition with an undetermined illness. The two siblings were very close, and his ailing health had crushed her. He was another reason to join; his medical bills were more than what their family could afford.

"If Adil were here, he'd be okay with me going," she muttered. Because he would have joined with her, just to make sure she was safe.

In a month, she would be flying out to an army training base, and spend a minimum of seven weeks there.

As the days passed, and her time home was coming to an end, Asima distanced herself from her family. The way she saw it, the better they knew what it felt like when she was gone, the better they were off when she did leave.

Nakia wouldn't miss her; Asima knew she was too much of a suck-up to their mother to have ever gotten close to Asima. Her father was nonexistent between work, smoking on the front porch or watching TV, he'd only ever come to her kindergarten graduation.

But Asima could not stop herself from crying the night before. She stared mournfully at the ring Adil had given her on her eighteenth birthday, praying to Allah that they would both somehow make it through all this.

Her dreams were tearing her from the inside.

****

"We love you, Zaen," his mother said through tears. Zaen hated to see his mother cry, blinking back his own. They were at the airport, and several people glanced their way.

"I know. I love you too."

"Be a good boy," she added, feigning a stern look. "They do all sorts of things out there. Stay strong, okay?" Zaen nodded. Before he turned to go, his mother embraced him once more, whispering prayers for him to be safe. Zaen hugged her back, wishing he didn't have to see his last moments with his mother to be sad ones.

Zaen looked over to his father. There were tears in his eyes too, but he stood away, almost bracing himself from the inevitable. Zaen pulled away from his mother, giving her a small smile.

"I'll be back before you know it," he said. She nodded.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Zaen looked over at the large screen indicating the flight takeoffs. His would start in an hour, meaning it was time to board his plane. He turned back to face them, and giving them an awkward wave goodbye, Zaen headed toward the terminal gate. He was greeted warmly by the flight attendant and guided inside where he took a seat by himself.

As time drew on, the plane began to fill up and the sound of nervous chatter filled the air.

Trying to calm his own nerves down, he took out his phone. Zaen smiled at the image of Sassy as a kitten as his background image. He wondered if cats were capable of feeling loss. Her mood hadn't changed when he'd stepped out of the house. Shaking his head, he scrolled through his playlist but none of his songs seemed to interest him at that moment.

Zaen paused before tapping on the audio Qur'an app. He closed his eyes and relaxed into the seat.