RIHAM AL RAJEH
LOST CHILDREN

I START MY WORDS WITH THE SUFFERING I HAVE ENDURED WITH MY FAMILY: MY SISTER, TWO BROTHERS, MY PARENTS, AND ME. WE USED TO LIVE IN PEACE UNTIL A PAINFUL DAY CAME WHEN WE WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF BULLETS AND THE SMELL OF BLOOD. THIS DAY HAS CARRIED ON UNTIL TODAY. I SWEAR TO GOD AS I WRITE THESE WORDS THAT MY TEARS COVER MY FACE FOR THE BITTERNESS I FEEL. THER EARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL YEARS OF THEIR LIFE AFTER LIVING UNDER THEB OMBING. WE LIVED IN AGONY AND DISTRESS WITH NOTHING BUT SUFFERING, KILLING, DESTRUCTION AND FEAR OF EVERYTHING. WE SAW DEAD BODIES ON THE STREET AND WE FELT THREATENED EVERY DAY.

THE VIOLENCE MY FAMILY HAS WITNESSED IS EATING AT OUR HEARTS. MY ONLY WISH IS THAT IT DOES NOT REMAIN IN OUR HEADS ALL OF OUR DAYS.