Leaving home

It had been twenty four years since she'd last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. She could still recall the stooping figure of her mother's waist in their backyard garden caught there like a piece of sheep's wool.

Despite being tired and weary from a long flight from California, she felt a surge of energy within her. All her childhood memories came flooding back. She was back home. Nothing seemed to have changed. The bright rays of the Arabian sun stung her eyes as she rang the same old rusty doorbell. Tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled her last day here.

The year was 1913, war-torn Arabia was facing drought and famine. People were trying to leave the country. Jasmine, her brother and her father sat at the breakfast table with nothing but half a loaf between them. Jasmine's dad was discussing a way to get them all out of the country when suddenly they heard the crashing of the front door and two policemen barged in.

As Jasmine suspected, they had come to take her brother as they required young man to fight in their army. Jasmine's mom rushed in from the garden and began to cry. She pleaded with the policeman to leave the men alone. Jasmine's father was surprisingly calm. He advised her to get out of the country as soon as possible and not to worry about them. Jasmine recalled his last words to her " Take care of your mommy; my sunshine."

As they were taken away, Jasmine and her mom packed a few essential belongings and left the country on the one camel that they owned. Jasmine's mother rode the camel, whilst Jasmine walked by her side. The journey was long and toilsome. They did not know where they were headed to, they only knew they had to leave their hometown without their men. something they had never ever done before. By sunset, all their provisions were over. They were both tired and exhausted. They spotted a refugee camp and decided to rest there for the night. As Jasmine tried to sleep, she heard gunshots above her and wandered about her father and brother. For months on end, they moved from one refugee camp to another wondering when all this would end. Jasmine worried about her mom who seemed to have aged and become very frail. Sometimes they all had to huddle up in some sort of underground mine to be safe from the air raids. However within six months, much to their relief, they were able to successfully leave the country and head to California where there were received as refugees and given legal rights to live and work. They had definitely survived the ordeal. Their sufferings were over but they never heard from Jasmine's father and brother again.

Twenty four years later, Jasmine stood at the door of her childhood home wondering if she would ever see her brother and father again. Years of trying to get any information about them had been futile. A lot had happened in the last twenty four years. Their mom had passed away but not before making Jasmine promise she would find her father and brother. Jasmine wondered if it was too late. She regretted not making the trip earlier. Jasmine now had a bright career. After completing her studies, Jasmine attended university and she now worked as a manager in one of the famous casinos in California. She had met a decent man; Jared. They had gotten married and even had a young boy; Jullian.

As the door opened, Jasmine was jolted from her thoughts. A young handsome man with muscular features opened the door. He was a splitting image of her brother. He had a smile on his lips. "Can I help you?" he asked. Jasmine could not believe her eyes. He sounded just like her brother too. Just as if he had read her thoughts, he said "I am Justin; Are you looking for someone?"

As tears blurred her eyes, Jasmine resisted the urge to hug him. Instead she whispered " I am looking for my brother Jake" Without another word, Justin walked her into the family room and there she saw an old man on a wheelchair. He looked as if he was sleeping but it was as if he sensed her presence. He looked up at her with the familiar charming bright smile she had known growing up. Jasmine froze momentarily. Then she slowly walked up to him and hugged him tightly. "No words were exchanged for a long time, then Jake spoke up; "What took you so long Jas?" he asked. Jasmine cried as she began to tell her story. Jasmine apologized for not coming earlier. The bright lights and music on the streets of California had kept her busy.

They both cried for their deceased parents. Jasmine learned that her father had not lived very long after being taken into the army. His health had deteriorated quickly. Jake had survived the five long years of the war; with a price. He had lost his left leg during an air raid. He was rushed to the hospital but the damage was already done. After that, he was sent home; he had married a nurse he had met at the hospital and had Justin. But his wife had passed away right after giving birth to Justin. Jasmine felt a wave of guilt wash over her as she realized Jake's life had been far from easy. He had raised Justin up alone. As Jasmine and Jake sat in each other's arms for a long time thinking about what they had each lost, Justin quietly walked in with some ice-cream. Jasmine smiled as she looked at him and told him about a cousin in California who would definitely be looking forward to meeting him. She made a silent vow to always be there for Jake and Justin.

After a quiet and somber dinner, Jasmine walked into her warm childhood bedroom. So much had happened in twenty four years, A family separated due to the futileness of war, her parents had never reunited after that tragic day. They must have had dreams to see each other again. Yet serenity filled her heart because she was back home and reunited with her brother and that was all that mattered.