They Stole Our Lives

6| Hassan

DAMASCUS, SYRIA- 2016

Hassan stared at his father, waiting for the words to leave his mouth, He could see his father's eyes twinkling as he fought back his tears. Hassan was confused, his father was always positive, even in the worst times, but today, he was different.

"I have been talking to your uncle, and he told me that we could only stay here for less than a month" His father lets the news out, "Where are we going to go then, son? Tell me"

Hassan was shocked, where can they go after this? They had no home, they cannot stay stranded in the streets like homeless people, they were a big family, why cannot they stay? Hassan was lost, not now, he thought. "Baba, calm down, we will find a way out of this, Inshallah," Hassan said, he himself was panicking inside, but as always he cannot show anybody his feelings. His father nodded, at least, it did comfort him. Hassan stood still, he was fighting himself inside, shall he hug him?

He took a step forward and gently wrapped his arms around his father, it looked awkward but it was what they needed, isn't it? His father hugs him back tightly, "We will find a way out of this Baba, don't worry, I will be there for you" Hassan whispered softly. when Hassan pulled away his father smiled and put an arm around Hassan, they walked back to the living room as a real father and son, for now, or maybe forever.

Everybody sat around, it was time for dinner, and here, they all ate together as a big family. Hassan felt different, sitting on the floor like this was different but it did feel good. He still wondered what could happen, where shall they go?

After dinner, everybody cleaned up, and sat around to watch some TV, Hassan didn't want to watch TV, he was panicking internally. While everybody was busy, he slipped himself into an empty room, as always, he wanted some quality alone time. Everything was just surreal, from an airstrike to them being here, it was weird. He sat alone in an empty corner and pulled out his phone, he thanked God that there was an internet connection. He started searching for ways to save his family, from going to Turkey, to looking for a new home, everything was risky. But, the war itself is risky, wasn't it?

Staying in Syria was too risky, he didn't want to risk another airstrike hitting his family, but on the other hand, leaving Syria and going where? Turkey did not accept refugees, and other countries such as Iran, Iraq, Libya, and Tunisia were in their own problems. Saudi Arabia was a great country but did not accept refugees, Yemen was in the same situation as Syria, or maybe even worse. Why don't just accept us? We are humans like them, not monsters, he thought. He was lost, all countries that were Arabic speaking and easier to settle in, where risky.

That is when something clicked in his mind, What about Europe and North American countries? Some accepted refugees and were safer than all the Arab countries, But who of all? He searched through hundreds of information, looking for a place to settle in, this won't be easy, he thought.

He was deeply searching, when someone opens the door wide, "Hassan, what are you doing?" He already guessed it was Yara. She was the one who always checked on him, it was her habit. She joined him on the floor and looked at his phone, she didn't know anything yet, so she was confused. He looked at her and put his phone down, he was trying to hide t from her.

"What was that?" She asked, "Hassan, what are you planning?" It sure was weird to catch your brother looking up weird information like this. He did not know how to explain this to her, he did not want her panicking like him. She patiently waited for him to tell her, he took a breath and let it out, "Dad told me that our uncle is just letting us stay here for a month, and we are out after that" He didn't stop even at the sight of her shocked face, "I am looking for a way to leave Syria, we cannot stay here"

She was shocked, just like him at first, "Leave Syria and go where? Syria is our only home" He let out a sigh, "I don't know, I honestly have no idea, that is what I am trying to figure out"

She nodded and stopped panicking, "I will help you out with this"  she was panicking inside, she was the emotional one, she wants to cry out loud right now, but how?

He hesitated and picked the phone up, now they became pair. "What about America? I've always wanted to be there and it's really nice there" His sister suggested, he just did not like the thought of being in America, "America doesn't seem like the right place for us," He said looking up more countries, they liked the thought of being in the Netherlands or Australia, they were great countries.

"What about Canada? People there are friendly right?" Hassan suggested to Yara. Yara's eyes brightened, Canada was an amazing place, it was home to a lot of Syrians like them.

But reaching there was impossible and the journey would be unbearable due to the fact that Canada is on the other side of the ocean. Canada was their only hope, or maybe not. Both Yara and Hassan agree on three different places, Canada, Australia, and Germany.

But all those countries were far, how could they plan their way to reach there in less than a month? How will they even cross the ocean in this situation? It was too risky, but risks are unavoidable here...