Run! Or You Will Die! – Part 2 of 3
A Boat of Refugees Attempting to Cross the Aegean Sea During the Winter
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Mohammed
Mohammed turns to look Issa directly in the eye and says, “Issa, I need you to stay here with Roma, Nour, and Ameera. I need you to work and provide for them all until you can make the journey across the Aegean Sea to Lesvos, Greece to join the rest of us. There is some money set aside for the trip across the Sea. Before leaving Turkey, you and Roma need to get married, so that they can not legally separate you, which they will try to do if you don’t. We will have the official marriage in Germany once you all arrive.”
At the break of dawn, the next morning, with tears streaming and hands memorizing faces, Bahea, Heavine and Mohammed say their goodbyes. Mohammed finally turns to his two oldest daughters and says, “Bahea, Heavine, it is time to go.” The three of them set out for Lesvos, Greece by boat and after a long journey and with much resistance along the way, they finally make it to their desired destination, Germany.
Issa
Issa had been in school in Turkey previously for economics and had been living there for three years before dropping everything to go back to Aleppo for Roma. Now, he is back, but with three women to provide for. It is up to me, he thinks. I have to provide for Roma, Nour, and Ameera. Mohammed is counting on me. After scouring the area for work, Issa gets a job in a supermarket as a manager over the inventory. Even though he is over qualified and he has skill sets to put most of the other workers to shame, he only makes 200 Euros per month. (Each ticket to cross the Aegean Sea by the Turkish smugglers is 1800 Euros per person.) If they did not have money saved up for this journey, they may have never made it out of Turkey.
Roma
“I’m getting married, Nour! Can you believe it? It may not be the full ceremony like we had pictured, but I’m getting married to my Issa!” Mohammed and Ameera had arranged this marriage for their daughter long ago in Aleppo. Issa and Roma grew up as cousins because Issa’s father is Ameera’s brother. According to their tradition, they arranged a marriage between their children. When they got older, Issa and Roma went to college together in Syria, both majoring in economics. They fell irrevocably in love. After a few years in school, Issa moved to Turkey to finish his degree. Though Issa completed his degree, Roma’s education was interrupted by the Syrian war.
Ameera
Just look at her! Ameera thinks to herself as she starts tearing up. There is Roma, on her wedding day, dressed in a ravishing ruby red dress with sequins and beads set in scrolling and floral patterns all over. A beaded veil crowns her head in absolute perfection while her brown tresses cascade down across her shoulders. She observes the adoration in Issa’s eyes as he looks on in amazement at his beautiful bride. Ameera lifts her chin a little higher. She sits up a little straighter, pride radiating from her like the rays of the sun shining down on her beautiful Roma. Who knew that there could be any happiness in the midst of all of this destruction and chaos? She takes all of these things and ponders them in her heart as she drinks in every second.
Issa
“It’s time to go. The smugglers are ready for us. They said we leave at midnight,” Issa informs the two girls and their mother. This would be the first of four attempts to cross the Aegean Sea to the promise land of Lesvos, Greece. Standing on the Turkish shore, Lesvos is as clear as day. I can almost reach out and touch it, Issa thinks to himself. It’s only a four-hour journey. We will be alright. They load into the boat, watching carefully for the police and the coast guard. It was not to be this trip. The coast guard picks them up and takes them back to the Turkish shore. Attempt one, failed. They move to a different city for safety from the police until they make their second attempt. This time, the Turkish army picks them up and takes them to jail for a day. Attempt two, shot down.
“We are going to keep trying. We will make it,” Ameera encourages her daughters and her new son-n-law, though she is not sure she believes it herself. Will we be trapped in Turkey forever? Will I ever see my husband and my two daughters again?
