From Distance Zero

Dr. Salwa Hassan Siddiq

It was evening… time passed slowly, and the silence was suffocating after most of the neighbours had left their homes with their belongings, heading towards the unknown. Those who remained were torn between the desire to flee and justifying to themselves reasons to stay, unaware of the danger they were still in.
As events progressed, life became a mix of fantasy and harsh reality—a hesitation that could not be resolved, a life that felt as though it was trapped in the depths of a well.
In this particular house lived a paralysed father, a mother, and two daughters. Their loved ones envied their lives, and their neighbours and friends cherished them. Everyone wanted the chance to help move the father’s wheelchair, for he had a history rich in giving. But such is life, with its trials and tribulations.
Then came the war, bringing with it fear, displacement, and the cruelty of the aggressors. Their wait in the house was like sitting on fire, though it didn’t last long.
One evening, as they had grown accustomed to ending their day early out of fear that the criminals might overhear them, an unusual noise broke the heavy silence. At first, they thought one of the remaining neighbours had come to rescue them, but within moments, the reality of the situation dawned on them.
It was exactly what they had feared.
The invaders—criminals—had arrived with all their cruelty and horror.
The scene was strange… the mother and daughters on one side of the room and the paralysed father on the other, everyone trembling.
In the middle of the room stood two young men, each carrying a frightening weapon slung over their shoulders. Their military uniforms seemed oversized, and their faces were unfamiliar. The family could only make this out after the intruders turned on their phone lights in the room. One of them shone the light on the two daughters after a quick scan of the room…
The daughters were as radiant as twin moons.
One of the thugs glanced at his companion with a vile look, signalling, “She’s yours.”
Tears welled up in the father’s eyes, powerless to stop what was happening. The mother was frozen in place.
One of the daughters quickly sneaked away, returning from her father’s direction. Suddenly, a scream shook the room.
The thug turned on his phone light again, revealing his brother drenched in blood. Without hesitation, he rushed out, leaving behind eyes blinded by the sheer darkness.
Seconds passed, during which blood had frozen, movements had stopped, and life seemed to have halted. But everything had become clear—the brave daughter had killed the thug.
“What now? What are we going to do?” the mother quickly asked.
In moments of terror, people act purely out of instinct for survival, and solutions often present themselves.
Within moments, the family was on the move—heading into the unknown, not knowing which door to take.
The daughters carried their father as if he were a small child, racing with their mother through the wind, seeking an escape.
In one of the alleys, the bright light of a car illuminated them, freezing them in their tracks. The car approached, its headlights cutting through the darkness. With trembling whispers, they realised it was a fellow countryman.
Oh, the relief and mercy of God!
They all got into the car, but no one dared to speak. After manoeuvring through alleys and evading danger, they finally spoke to the driver, saying, “We’re in your hands.”
The young man navigated left and right, avoiding dangers occasionally until he delivered them to a main road. It was close to midnight when he said, “Rest, I’ll arrange your departure.”
The following day, he took them to the owner of a long-distance bus, who handed them over to the people of a nearby village. They were kind and hospitable, treating them as their own.
A year and a few months of war have passed, and the memory of that day remains etched deeply in the family’s heart. They don’t know what became of their home or the criminal, hoping those moments never revisit their broken hearts.
Despite losing their home and everything they left behind, they thank God for the blessing of safety and security. Everything else can be endured, for they are now safe and sound in their new life, waiting for the clouds of mercy and the promise of victory.