Life as a refugee

The time I wasn't alone

I woke up with a damp towel over my head and a bandage over my leg. I was relieved that someone was kind enough to take care of me but then I realised what had just happened. What were they going to do to my sister what did they want from her she was still a baby only 7, she didn't know anything about what happened and was way too young to even understand.

As I slowly sat up a woman with a wrinkly face and fair skin with holes in her clothes and knots in her hair walked in and said "Hello how are you feeling" I replied "I am doing okay but my sister what do they want why did they take her". "I don't know but all I know is you need to leave Iraq and your life here it is too dangerous for someone your age and worse having no parent goodness knows what they'll do to you" with a sad look regrettably agreed to leave and look for my sister.

"I know someone who owns a boat he can get you to Australia but you only have 2 weeks until he leaves you must make a decision" my heart felt like it was just ripped out of my chest and crushed in front of me "I can't leave not without my sister". For a week I did nothing but try and find her without any success and as the days turned into nights I felt as if I was being constantly watched.

It was November 4th 2012 when I first lost my sister and now it is the 18th of November two weeks have passed and there was still no luck in finding her, the women that first looked after me drove me to where the boat was leaving it was a 2 hour drive the air smelt dry and made me feel sick. As we were pulling up I looked out the window and saw the boat, I hung my head like a dying flower and thought, how is this tiny wooden boat going to get me all the way to Australia but I kept my faith and put on the life jacket and walked over to the boat as I sat down about 100 people started running for the boat.

Wewere just leaving the shore and looked back at the lady and waved I was so gratefulto finally have a chance at a normal life but Aisha was left behind.