https://youtu.be/BoKn3651-Ww

The cemetery was filled with shocked people. As Elena exchanged glances with others, their eyes communicated confusion, disbelief, immense sadness, and numbness. Elena felt what all these people felt. She felt an unusual sense of unity with everyone present. They were all grieving their loved ones. They had all died in the most painful ways. Being surrounded by others made it easier for Elena. But, what pained her the most was Andreas. She wished there was at least a grave for him so she could properly mourn him. But, that wasn't even there. She reached into her bag and noticed the note from Andreas which Aziza had given her. It was stained with Aziza's blood and crumpled. She shakily unfolded it and read it to herself.

Take one step towards me, I will take ten steps towards you.

Walk towards me, I will run towards you.

Leave me and I will yearn for you until the sun rises in the west.

Elena felt her heart fall out of her. His words tore her already ripped-up heart. Her bottom lip quivered as tears began to sting her eyes and a giant lump formed in her dry throat. And now, Andreas was gone. She felt like she was no longer a mountain. She was just a vase. A vase that shattered over and over again. And she thought she was more. But, she should have known that her fate was written as a tragedy. And always would remain that way. Perhaps she was being punished for her past.

Some of the children cried. She was glad they were releasing their emotions. But others stood petrified as if all the life had been sucked out of them. They were like pale ghosts.

Elena tried to breathe the fresh afternoon air but felt suffocated. She watched the birds swoop down and peck at the fresh dirt atop the dead bodies. The weather was completely opposite to the darkness that welled up inside all the mourners at the cemetery. The children quietly cried to themselves grieving their friend, Amir, their lovely mother figure, Aziza, and Andreas, whom the children had grown fond of in a matter of minutes. He always had a way with children.

"Ms. Elena?" Faizan came up to her, sobbing his eyes out. "Are Ms. Aziza and Amir and Andreas in heaven?"

Elena smiled down at him. "Yes. They are."

The boy began to cry more and hugged Elena.

"We'll never see them again!" Faizan bawled as he buried his head into Elena's side.

Then, all the children ran over to her and hugged her, desperately needing that embrace. Mustafa stood to the side, looking furious as he stared at the picture of President Bashar Al Assad on the building across the cemetery. He stormed up to Elena.

"He did this, didn't he?!" He fumed to Elena, his eyes shaking with anger. "What a prick! What a bastard!"

Some people at the cemetery quickly turned to him as they were afraid for him expressing his political views out loud - as if the painted picture of the president across the road was the actual tyrant they feared. 

Faisal looked up at Elena.

"Did President Assad do this?" The little boy innocently asked, awaiting her answer.

The children all did, waiting for her response. Elena looked at the faint, almost menacing smile on the president's long face and his cold, beady eyes. She took a deep breath and looked at the golden dome on the mosque in the distance.

"It is God's will," She said softly and sighed while the children still had their arms tightly wrapped around her.