As Long as I Breathe...

Chapter 1 - The Arrival

Lina and her sister have just arrived from a very long and exhausting trip. Now, they have reached American soil. For Lina, this is a chance to start a new life, to make her dreams come true and live peacefully. She feels safe. She can have some rest and breathe again. 

Now, it is time to leave the past all behind and start moving forward, but leaving their father behind was heartbreaking for them. When they made their farewells to him, Lina knew that it was the last time she was seeing her father. He was smiling at them, feeling relieved that his daughters will escape this chaos and misery.

At the airport, Lina appears at the arrival gate, holding her sister by the hand. She is carrying both of their backpacks and starts looking for this relative: An aunt, whom she did not know up to recently. She has an old picture to identify her, but she must have changed since then. Lina starts to wonder about this encounter.

Lina: (in her mind) I don't know if I will be able to recognize her. I hope she is kind, just like dad said. But what if she doesn't show up? What if she doesn't like us? What will we do? We don't know anybody or anything! What will I do with her?(looking down at Sarah) She is so fragile, so weak... No-no-no, don't think like that! Everything is going to be fine, that's what dad told us. But grown-ups always tell us that everything is gonna be alright even when it's not the case... No- what am I talking about! I have to trust dad.

As they walk, an old woman comes closer and starts to examine them. She takes her glasses off, looks at the girls intensely, and puts them back on. Satisfied with her perusal, she gradually stretches her arms towards Lina and places her hands on Lina's cheeks.

Aunt Ayna: You have his eyes, his features (she says moved) his daughter in flesh and blood! (she looks down at Sarah) Look at this cutie pie over here! Everything is going to be okay now, I'm going to take care of you.

Sarah nods. Then, aunt Ayna takes the two girls in her arms and holds them tightly against her chest. Lina closes her eyes and lets herself drown in this ocean of warmth. For a second, she feels like she is in her mother's arms. Deep in her heart, she wished it was her mother. She wished her mother was still here to smell her delicate perfume, still here to soothe her when she's having a bad day, still here to call her name with her sweet voice, and still here to tell her jokes or sing together. But now, all that remains were memories of her that she is going to cherish...

Aunt Ayna: Poor little things! It must have been very hard for you, you came from so far, come on, let's go! You must be exhausted after this long trip. Let's get out of here.

She holds Sarah by her hand and they head towards the exit.

Lina: So, you know my dad?

Aunt Ayna: Yes, but I didn't see him for like 20 years now, he was young back at the time (she laughs)

Sarah: Where's daddy? You said that he's gonna join us! (She says with a trembling voice while pressing her teddy bear against her chest)

Lina looks down at her with a sad look upon her face and turns to aunt Ayna. The latter looks at Lina with a beaten look and turns to Sarah to lay her hands on her cheeks.

Aunt Ayna: Sarah, listen... It's a little bit complicated. For the moment, your dad will not be able to join us... but I need you to be a strong girl! Can you do that for me?

Sarah nods then she presses the teddy bear against her chest, again.

Aunt Ayna: Okay! Come on now, let's get you out of here, I bet that you're hungry!