Jerusalem

Chapter 9 (My mission)

     It's been six months since youssef had joined the army. Youssef had stayed in the army for two months straight without any nights out since his talk with Mariam. He haven't seen her after that . After all he needed to concentrate on his mission and that's what he had been doing. Youssef came to Egypt following Ali. After Ali introduced him to sheikh Hassan, things became more and more complicated but in the same time more clearer.  

Youssef and Omar had moved to America right after their dad died . That was two months after Maggie had committed suicide. They had no family left in Egypt . So they had to travel to America to live with their Uncle. They had finished high school and they were about to go to college but they couldn't afford it . That's why they needed their uncle. They needed someone to look after them. Youssef and Omar didn't say a word to each other all that time . Not one word . Except for the day their dad died . It was a sunny day, Omar woke up so early. He climed down the stairs . He was trying to get out of the house without bumping into youssef as his looks were killing Omar. They were like poison arrows that tortured Omar. Ever since Maggie died , Omar couldn't sleep at all. And whenever his eyes close, he sees her in front of him. She was his worst nightmare. He felt guilty and responsible for her death. He was convinced as youssef thought that he killed her . Omar wanted to die because he knew that youssef will never forgive him. He will never be his brother again. Omar was on his way out of the house but he noticed something strange. The door to Mr. Mohmed room was opened. It was wide open. That was unusual. Omar moved slowly as he didn't want to wake his dad up. He entered the room and found their dad lying on the floor. He rushed to help him up but he didn't move. He reached for his pulse but there was nothing. He couldn't believe that was happening . Even if Mr. Mohmed was the worst father in the world. Even if he hurt them so bad . He was their father and that was an undeniable truth. Omar kept trying, trying to move him, trying to wake him up .He was thinking:please God, please no . Please let him live. What would I do without him? God you've taken mom from us. Please leave him. He is not that bad. I ... I ... I love him. But Mr. Mohmed was gone now. It was too late now. Omar realized what happened. He figured it out . He wanted to shout. He wanted to get that load off his chest.  

"Youssef. Youssef. Youssef."screamed out Omar. But his chest still hurts the same.  

Youssef jumped out of the bed and got down . He rushed into the room. It didn't take him much time to figure out the obvious. They were officially orphans. They won't have a family that will be there when they graduate or be proud of them when they start working or spend the holidays with them or attend their weddings. They won't have a family. Not anymore.  

Their uncle got them settled in America. He finished all their papers. Youssef as everyone around Omar knew that being a doctor is a job made for Omar. He was a doctor. He was someone that save people's lives. So it didn't surprise youssef at all when Omar applied for medicine college. Youssef knew exactly why did Omar made that decision . He knew Omar wanted to atone for his sins. He wanted to stop that guilt feeling . He wanted to be able to sleep. On the other hand youssef knew exactly what he will be. He knew. He is an engineer. Engineering was his first and only love. Engineering was his passion. When he is doing it, he is almost someone else. He looks so focus and concentrating. Like it takes him into another world. They both got into college and they both got jobs to help their uncle.  

Time passed , but nothing changed between youssef and omar . They lived their lives separately. Truth to be told , omar tried everything he can to fix it . He kept talking to youssef and telling him that he never meant for that to happen. He begged him for forgiveness even though he knew that he won't be forgiven. Youssef doesn't forget and he doesn't forgive. That's why Maggie will always be between them. And as time passed, Ali was too. Ali somehow took omar's place in youssef's life. It was killing Omar because now youssef found someone to replace him. And that will only make things between them more complicated.