Perspective #1: [Diwaniya, Iraq] Draft #2 edited

   The three of us run past a familiar worn down sign with an old picture of a famous martyr that had died back 100 years ago. He had died back before the days of this World War. He had died back when people still believed in hope that the world will become peaceful. The people of that time believed that such a war was impossible. It's funny to always think about the impossible being impossible, and then be fooled to know that the impossible is actually very possible.

The atmosphere is hot, as I can feel the drips of sweat streaming down my dry face and back. I smell gunpowder even though there are no bombs exploding nor shots being fired. The world is still right now. It's just always been so barren. It's either my nose is tainted or the world is. Perhaps the world and I are both tainted.

The ground is red with dust and blood mixed to become the Earth's new crust. The artsy building are shattered; some broken and some leaning on an awkward angle like the Leaning Tower of Pisa was before it finally fell.

I haven't been here, to this area in a long time, but it feels as if I had never left. I can still hear shouts and explosives happening in my head, making me shiver as if the 'incident' were still going on. We were so close to escaping this country until I remembered I had forgotten something too significant to be left behind in our house. We traveled back on foot for a month to come here and get it despite the dangers that accompanied us. This thing is worth the risk. I might as well just die if I don't have it.

My heart pounds rapidly and I start to feel heavy and my knees buckle. Only half of my house is intact. Debris lays everywhere. It seems to be my parents' room that is still standing completely.

Tears fill my eyes as memories flood back of a better and more safe time; a time when I felt whole, when we were whole. I may not like what's happening now; as if my whole world is drowning into oblivion, but no matter what, I can not show pain to the ones I love most. It's a rule. It's my number one rule.

I shush them into the house quietly. We rush into our house and directly to the area the item is in; what used to be he living room.

   I scoop away through the debris until I find it. The picture and it's beautiful engraved gold frame. The glass has a crack striking right down the middle separating half the family. "How ironic," I think to myself. Nonetheless, it's still remains one of the most important things to me. I gently put it into my backpack and turn to my siblings. They seem to be flashbacks like I am.

   "Let's get going," I tell them in a soft whisper as I move towards them slowly. Suddenly the still becomes lively and I lunge at them both, bringing them into our parents' room. Why would there be a bomb? Why now? Why here? This place is already destroyed. What could possibly wake up this sleeping city?

   More bombs explode and shots are fired. Fear for my brother and sister fills me and I go through all the possible scenarios, solutions and outcomes. I come to a couple.

   Option one:
    They won't bomb already so broken. We will wait until everything eases down and then escape through the back of the house.
   Option two:
  We're bombed and that's it.
   Option three:
   The enemy finds us and I do whatever is possible to protect my family. No matter what it takes. No matter how long may continue on for.

   My arms are cradled well around my siblings. I feel him shivering and I feel her numb. I bite my lip hard and squeeze them close to me as the ground continues to shake. We shouldn't have come back here and it's all my fault.

   "Habibti Noha," I whisper to her. "It's okay, it will be absolutely fine at the end of the day. I am here to protect you both. I'm always going to be here and do that. Till death do us part." I hold back my tears and squeeze my eyes shut wondering if I do so if I can get blind. I hope they live a long and prosperous life. I hope they don't experience losing another person ever again. But they will have to because life in this world right now, there's a higher probability to be killed. I open my eyes; knowing I'd want to see my last moments aware and not blind.

   "I'm fine she tells me with her voice shaking. "Trust me." I kiss the tops of the small cold sweat drenched heads and squeeze them tighter. I can feel goosebumps rising on my body. The hairs at the back of my neck standing as a pistol is shot perhaps right outside our house. I don't know what I'd possibly do if I didn't have them in my life; if I had lost them already. I probably would have gone insane  committed suicide. Given myself up to the enemy or drowned myself by jumping into a lake. Death would be better than to love through this war. But, I have them. I can't die because my mother entrusted me with them and so I have to protect them. They remain to be one of the reasons that I manage to put one foot in front of the other everyday.

We sit there in silence for another three minutes, it seems that the world has stopped and only us are in motion. But, I know that, that's too good to be true no matter how much hope I have.

   "Do you really think it'll be fine?" Mustafa asks out of the blue.
At that moment a bomb blows up and the ground beneath us starts shaking. I pull them even closer which can't even be possible noticing that they both have their hands on their ears, cringing from fear.

   "Yes," I say nonetheless. "Just pray to God. He shall answer our prayers and help the world."

   I can hear nothing but the racing hearts of my siblings and the explosive bombs outside. How long is it before they hunt us down and dispose of us?

   I look at my parents' room. The white leather bed and it's turquoise sheets. The family pictures consisting of six people lined up against the wall. The jewellery box that once belonged to my mother laying open on their dresser. 

    Grasping my siblings as close to me as possible as I drop into a state of nothingness and daydreams. Daydreams of a world Mustafa and Noha can live happily. A world where they can grow up, go to school, find a job, get married, have kids, and watch their offspring grow up as well. But, above all, I dream of a world where instead of me comforting my brother and sister, our parents comforting all of us. I close my eyes tightly and grit my teeth to get the painful thought out of my head. I know that's impossible. And, I don't want to think about what could have been. I need to focus on my siblings. The most important things to me right now.

   I hear footsteps moving so lightly across my house and I directly know who this can not be. They're not the Iraqi army, they more heavily. A migraine begins and I swiftly put my siblings behind me. It must be foreigners. They've come for us; they've come for me. Shadows appear tall and bulky. 2 men and a woman with khaki green uniforms stand at the door of the bedroom.

   The woman catches my attention and plants the largest smile I have ever seen. With one hand on her hip and the other taking off her designer sunglasses. Her green eyes pierce through mine. "Hello Deena Abdul."

   "What do you want from me?" I hiss pbravely; attempting to refrain my voice from cracking. "Just leave us alone."

   "I can't leave you alone," she says sweetly. "You see, my friends here are from WRTA."

   "And? What's that supposed to mean?" I question stepping back. I almost trip as I've put my left foot right behind me right foot.

   "The World Refugee Training Association. We're here to help you and train you by going to school and have a better understanding of the world. You and Mustafa and Noha can come."

   "And if we refuse?" My voice low and shallow my eyes as menacing as hers, maybe even more I assume.

   "And if you refuse," she repeats with a deadly frown. "You will be killed and locked up. You either join us and get the help were offering you or like I said before, 'death.' You know too much about WRTA already."

   I squint at her and then raise one eyebrow. She's becoming completely insane! "We don't know anything at all!" I desperately call.

   "You know it exists and that my dear is too much all on its own," she retaliates. She takes off her glove revealing her perfectly manicured black nails and flips her hair. She seems too pampered.

   I feel my heart pound in each of my fingertips as my legs go numb at the same time. She seems harmless and perhaps it won't be a bad idea going with them. This could be our only chance to freedom and if it's not. I can't think about my next move there. "You swear you won't hurt them?"

   "You have my word," she says smugly with one hand on her heart and the other in the air right atop her shoulder.

   "Go in front of us," I demand. "I need to make sure there isn't any funny business." They start to move towards the door but I stop them. "And give me a gun," I add. They look shocked that a girl like me could ever have the guts to hold a pistol. "I won't use it if there isn't any, like I said before, 'funny business.'

   They hand me a gun, the woman having a proud smile on her face as they continue to go out the door. I follow them, my arms around my siblings as if I were a mama bear cradling her bear cubs. Once were outside back to the red rubble, Mars looking Earth which is still once more I turn to the woman slightly. She beckons me over and attempts to put her arm over me as if we are her kids. I move from her quickly and she frowns quite sadly and real. "I'm sorry," I say feeling bad. "But, if what you say is true about you helping us, it's going to take awhile for me to trust anyone." She nods as if she understands and looks away.

   We're led through the city to a cleared out area that actually has some greenery. I read the sign, 'Theheb Park.' We used to come here as a family very often. When we're all still together.

   I see a small plane and remember all the family vacations we used to take. How my siblings and I would always fight for the window seat or about which plane movie was the best to watch.

   The plane glides through the sky and into space. Peacefulness and serenity overcome the atmosphere. I don't recall a moment like this in forever.
The plane flies over the sky to a place I've never been. To a place of which I've only dreamed of. A land of green and blue skies. No war sounds and blood. A place I am truly terrified of when I see the woman is staring at me, laughing.
What have I done? I know. I've just thrown away my whole life.