1996 – Cairo, Egypt
A cold winter morning.
It wasn't even nine o'clock yet when a family ran through the narrow streets, gasping for breath.
The mother carried three-year-old Sami on her back. His small hands clutched her coat tightly. A few steps ahead of her ran Rami, his boots striking stone as he tried to guide them toward the Israeli border.
Behind them, the Egyptian National Security forces closed in.
Visibility was almost zero. Dust, fog, and chaos swallowed the streets whole.
The cold burned her lungs with every breath. Sami whimpered softly, his forehead pressed against her neck.
"It's okay," she whispered, though she didn't believe it. "It's okay… Baba is here."
Rami glanced back again. Too often. Too afraid.
"Don't stop," he shouted. "Please, don't stop."
Her legs finally gave out.
She stumbled and collapsed against the wall of a narrow alley.
"Rami… stop," she said weakly. "I can't run anymore."
Gunfire echoed behind them.
Rami turned, panting.
"We're almost there," he said desperately. "Just get into the vehicle and—"
She cut him off, anger breaking through her exhaustion.
"And then what, Rami?" she shouted. "Will you leave us again?"
She pulled Sami into her arms, fighting back tears. Rami slowly stepped closer.
"Please," he whispered. "This is temporary. I'll come back for you. I swear. I just need to take care of one thing. That's all."
She looked away, gently stroking her son's hair.
"Go," she said quietly. "Bring the car here. Our child is exhausted. We'll wait."
Rami hesitated. Then he turned and ran.
As she tried to calm Sami, a voice rang out from the distance.
"Hey! Stop right there! Don't move!"
Panic took over.
She jumped to her feet and ran in the opposite direction.
"Rami!" she screamed.
Sami began to cry again.
An armored vehicle suddenly turned into the street.
"Open fire!"
Gunshots tore through the air.
Rami swerved the vehicle into position, using it as cover, and flung open the side door.
"Get in!" he shouted. "Now!"
Bullets slammed into the metal.
She hesitated.
Rami ran around the back of the car and—
The world stopped.
His wife lay on the ground, motionless.
A single shot to the head.
For a moment, there was no sound.
No gunfire.
No shouting.
Only silence.
Rami dropped to his knees beside her. His hands hovered in the air, afraid to touch, afraid to accept what he already knew.
Her eyes were open. Empty. Still warm.
"No," he whispered. "Please… look at me."
Sami's screaming tore through the silence.
Rami pulled his son close, pressing the child's face into his chest.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
This wasn't the plan.
He had promised her a normal life.
And instead, he had delivered her to the ground.
Gunfire erupted again.
There was no time to grieve.
Rami forced himself to move. He grabbed Sami, jumped into the car, and drove straight toward the border.
---
At the Israeli border, he met a man he once owed a debt to.
After a long silence, the man nodded.
"All right," he said. "But if you have anything to say to your child, say it now."
Rami held Sami longer than necessary.
The child was exhausted, confused. His small fingers played with Rami's coat.
"dad?" Sami asked softly.
"Yes, my son."
"Are you coming too?"
The lie burned his throat.
"Soon," Rami said. "I'll come soon."
He knelt and brushed his son's hair gently.
"Your mother would want this," he whispered. "My dear Sami… live a normal and happy life. For her… and for me."
"You will take him to the capital of the United States," Rami said firmly.
"I'm only doing this because you owe me," the man replied. "But his name has to change. Ethan is a classic name. A good one."
"…Fine," Rami said quietly.
He took one last look at his son.
Then he turned away and disappeared into the fog, trying to look strong while breaking apart inside.
---
2010– Washingon, D.C., USA
(BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Click!)
08:30 AM.
Ethan groans as the alarm finally shuts up. He lies there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling, letting the silence settle in.
If only the school burned down today…
The thought is automatic. Every morning, same wish, same tired sarcasm. He drags himself out of bed and walks to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. When he looks into the mirror, a half-awake boy with messy hair stares back.
"Good morning, Ethan… another damn school day."
From downstairs, his mother's voice echoes through the house.
"Ethaaaan! Breakfast is ready! Come down!"
"I'm coming!"
He gets dressed quickly and heads downstairs. The house feels calm, ordinary. The smell of coffee fills the air. His mother is already at the table.
"Good morning, Mom…"
"Morning, Ethan. Eat fast, you're going to be late."
Ethan pokes at his omelet, still half asleep. His mother continues while cleaning up.
"Your father and I have a work meeting today. We'll be back late. There's food in the fridge if you get hungry."
"Yeah, okay."
She pauses, then looks at him seriously.
"And don't touch your father's beers. If I find out, it won't end well."
Ethan says nothing. He finishes his breakfast just as the school bus appears outside. He grabs his bag and heads for the door.
"Have a good day at school, Ethan!"
"Thanks."
He gets on the bus and takes a seat by the window. The city slowly moves past him as the bus drives on. At the next stop, a girl gets on and looks around before sitting next to him. She's energetic, smiling, clearly new.
Their eyes meet.
"Hi! I'm Mia. I just transferred to this school. Is this seat taken?"
"No, go ahead. I'm Ethan."
There's a short, slightly awkward silence.
"What grade are you in? she asks."
"Twelfth grade. You?"
"Same. Class A."
For reasons he doesn't understand, Ethan feels a strange spark of excitement.
" I'm in Class C."
The bus stops near the school. Before standing up, Mia smiles at him.
" Nice meeting you, Ethan."
" You too."
Ethan doesn't see Mia again for the rest of the day.
That evening, he comes home to an empty house. He heats up some food, grabs one of his father's beers anyway, and drops onto the couch in front of the TV. He opens the can, stretches his legs out, and exhales.
Two minutes later, the doorbell rings.
He groans and gets up. Looking through the peephole, he sees a man standing outside, staring straight back at him.
"Who are you?"
The man speaks calmly.
"Don't you recognize me, Sami?"
Ethan freezes. That voice… that face…
A memory flashes in his mind. A child's voice. A promise.
"Live a normal and happy life…"
" F-Father?.."
He slowly opens the door.
After all these years…
his real father is standing right in front of him.
End of Chapter1.