How Did Ramadi Changed My Life

The sounds of gunfire were abundant like an intense hailstorm. The bullets crackled into the air, oblivious to their actual purpose. Each bullet fired eventually penetrating something, whether it was living or non-living. I wonder if the person pulling the trigger felt any emotions of compassion, sorrow, guilt or even regret. There was another death in my hometown of Ramadi, a father trying to protect his family from the jihadist group ISIS. Feeling threatened and defenceless I lay awake at night in fear of ISIS hurting my loved ones.
One day my life changed for the worst. The gunfire blistering through the air had died down, the shouting of the monsters quietened and the silence of the deceased rest upon the stained red dirt trails. It was at that time we had to flee the country in order to protect my family. We left our belongings and some great …show more content…
The boat that we planned to seek asylum on was in no condition to sail across the Mediterranean ocean let alone to carry all the people awaiting at the port. The rusted old ten tonne boat with life vests displayed on a rusted chain toward the back and the worn out deck made me even more anxious about the ride that as awaiting us. The boat projected a deafening pulsating engine sound that trembled everything onboard that wasn’t secured.
It was time to board the boat and the authorities were trying to fit as many in as possible. Just when things weren’t looking promising my brother Ahmed I were the last two to make the shipment to Europe. Leaving behind our mum and dad was the hardest thing we had to do. Ahmed, at a tender age of four and I was ten at the time. We walked across the unstable pontoon that was in no condition for people to be walking on. At the moment we bordered the boat, I glanced at my mum with an anxious look on my face, a look of uncertainty.
“Everything will be just fine Amelia” she guaranteed