"Fadi! Fadi! I am SOOO hungry!" 6 years old Zayd whined, giving his best puppy eyes, while clutching Fadi's sleeve. The creaked swing lay abandoned, its chains swaying slightly in the wing. The once vibrant playground was now a shadow of its former self- broken slides half-buried in rubble, rusted swings swaying aimlessly, and shattered concrete where children once played but for Al-Masri, it held the memories and a reminder of what they lost. "Tell Youssef to go home and bring food here"
"Look, Youssef! Our prince wants food, but he is not ready to go home." Fadi said, lifting Zayd in his arms. "But Mama and Abu must be missing you, little one."
"You don't want them upset do you, Zizo?" Youssef added, cupping Zayd's cheek.
"No no no! No upset! But wanna play! Play, Fadi! Youssef!"Zayd whined with a whimper. "Please, Fa---- he stopped mid-whimper, as the sounds of bombing and shooting suddenly filled the air.
Bomb
Bomb
Then echoed the scream of people running around, last scream of people dying. Fadi immediately buried Zayd's face in his neck. "Shhh, little one. Don't worry. It will pass over soon. We will be fine. Close your eyes, love " Fadi whispered, his voice trembling, eyes wide with fear, tears stung in his eyes but he had to stay calm for them; his brothers especially Zayd who was now fully sobbing terrified.
Fadi and Youssef looked at the direction of the bombing , exchanging looks of sheer terror, they knew there was no escaping what was coming. They could hope so. "Lets run to find somewhere safe" Youssef said.
Fadi nodded, clutching Zayd as they ran together to find a shelter. "Home" they thought as they ran but soon, their legs felt jelly. They felt tired. Fadi stumbled but caught himself. Just then, they saw a man further away in other direction, laying in the middle of a pool of blood, groaning as he tried to stand. He was shot in the leg and maybe in stomach too. "I will help " Youssef muttered, as he ran towards the man, before Fadi could say anything. But when Youssef almost reached the man. The sound of shots, thrice, reached Fadi's ear. For a moment, he froze, almost fell to his knees but his little brother, Zayd, kept him from weakening. Youssef was shot. Died In front of him. And he couldn't do anything. Tears fell
from his eyes like a waterfall. He knew he couldn't stop. Not now. He closed his eyes for a moment then he ran as if his life was dependent on it. In no moment, he found himself holding Zayd tightly who was now reaching towards their ruined house yelling for their dead parents, trying to escape Fadi's grip. His sobbing echoed with the sounds of bombing and shooting.