The Escape

kept traveling for three days non stop..

i was so desperate ,in the late 90s of the last century,iraq was a dying country,people were so desperate ,we were squeezed hard by the UN blockade,
 i was a doctor ,but could hardly earn my living ,but mostly things were just intolerable.
 we were harassed all the time ,i thought of every way to flee ,and once i had the chance ,i took it right away..i had to leave an old mother and a sister in her late 40s,all alone,i kept thinking how will they manage alone ,i used to take care of things for years ,but again i just reached a state i could not tolerate things no more ..         so i took the ride from mosul in the north of iraq ,to the borders to jordan,about 800 km ,it was a non stop drive ,no one ever knew ..but for my poor mother(it must be kep a secret or i get caught) who stood at the door all tears ,and my wailing sister,i never looked back to see their last looks ,i knew i may go crazy and burst in tears ,i dreaded the idea.                                   now 2 hrs on the road it was getting dark ,the driver who also knew of our plan of escape ,he kept silent ,he saw the last minute of my departure ,and the tragic scene,so i suppose he thought not to talk and add to the bitterness ,is the best ,he said some words ,i did not answer .             for tears were still welling in my eyes ,we reached the border with jordan at dusk ,i was so tired ,mental exhaustion was wearing me out ,physically i could almost collapse ,any minute ,so at last the critical moments were i had to check with the customs officer ,Iraqi customs ,you must know these are high ranking officers very loyal to the regeme and real cruel and fearful,i was really afraid..if they knew i was on the run ,i was to go to prison ,with no one else to know where and when shall i be out again ,the kind driver tipped me some secrets ,he said dont ever say anything unless asked ..second..he added  say the least as possible keep your mouth shut as much as you can ..look as if you are on a bussiness trip ,as a tradesman ,be very little eloquent ,say words like you are of some very middle class people ,and if asked hard questions ..you should look baffled and not knowing what to answer but never waver,keep your nerves like in freeze ..any way if you get caught ,you can do nothing keep that in mind ,so take your chances bravely ,and prey for luck ..                       if you were kept long in there he said ,i will tell them you were not with me or we will both be canned together..
 but thats all ,it seems God was with me again ,as if all were blinded..like they never saw me,never asked me anything.. otherwise i was so weak still afraid and faltering ,any question ,will put me wide in the open ,and its the can waiting for me ..my pulse was halfd..                         as we crossed the border at last,once inside jordan territories ,i knew i made an escape ,and tears came to my eyes again,i remembered mother ,and poor sister ,i will never see hem again ,for anyone fleeing like that will never even hope of getting back inside ,it woul be suicide for sure .
 i stayed in jordan for a while ,i had brothers in canada ,they sent me some money ,they were well off ,been there for 30 y by then ,they ran many years ahead of me ,so i managed get a ticket to yemen ,the only country who will accept iraqis,i tried diffirent countries but i was pushed away .
 i rode the pain to yemen ,i knew non there ,in jordan ,on the passenger plane who lifted me to the high clouds at midnight ,to yemen where i knew absolutely none here..                           Now i was really scared,alone,no one to know and no support of any kind going to a place i ve never seen or head before..   only with one idea in mind,they needed doctors there ,it was very good in that case ,5 hours in the air ,i was completely off balance was shaky all over it was like one ride from home to yemena ride to the unkown with no comeback ever all in all about 3 days travelling ,
 i landed in Sanaa ,capital of yemen ,i just heard of it ,never seen it or known anything about it ..
 it was a miserable airport ,it was like garage ,only planes sheltered and not cars instead of cars ..                                       at the checkpoint the yemeni officer asked few questions ,chewing lots of gatt .. a hallucinating plant they chew to get high..eyes so bright and piercing from the drug ,
 i asked for a bus to midtown(at the reception or so it seemed ,how funny i almost laughed at him and myself)..      they said there was none ,so i took the first taxi i saw.. it was the 60s model ,the driver was so messy ,and dirty ,and mouth full of that drug gatt ,eyes blazing ,i was so occupied in thought and mind i was dazed and all like lost ..                                        i never asked how much the fee ,after 30 min . ride ,he said he will charge me 100 dollars ,i shreaked what the hell,i said ,its only a few kilometers ride ..                     he said ,look ,you have some options very few though ,i leave you here in the desert and not on the main road ,but way from it so you can never get another ride ,or you pay ..                                                          i pleaded i have not that lot on me ,but he will never budge ,he even insinuated he will fight for whats his right ,i took it as a threat ,so i kept silent ..                           after a while he asked ok give me the money i said i will pay half what he asked ,but no ..he wanted all ..i was so tired all drained up ,so hungry ,and not knowing what i am doing .                       What! was all this right ,i regretted everything ,now its about 3 days traveling ,i almost went to tears ,but i never showed it ,if he knew of my weakness ,he will take the money and everything and kill me just the same so ..i tried all my best to negotiate with him ,like increasing the bet from 50 until 90 ,but again he said in a very harsh and loud voice that he will get his money only when i am tucked in a hotel ..                      and I complimented him as yemenees were very good arab nationalist,he was joking at my words ,i was sure ,but i think he thought to himself to settle for 90 dollars ..                                                   by then the lights of sanaa were in sight,i thought the nightmare was at end ,i said wake up ,but it was not a nightmare ,he took his money and threw my luggage at some dirty hotel entrance ,the owner was at the door ,saying in a shrill ,welcome welcome ,this is like your home ,we are all arabs ,so welcome you are in happy yemen so they called it ,i made it to the entrance where i collapsed just upon going inside inside..

this will be continued as suitable..
 

Author's Note

no tears ,ha ha

Reviews

[Brian Warby]

This was a great story! If this actually happened to you, I'm so sorry. But things like real life struggles can make fantastic stories- even how bad or good they may be.
The only problem I have is the no capitalization when you said "I." Other than that, it was fantastic! :D

[bluessadmood]

Thank you my friend,so glad you liked it

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Such a poignant piece...like a window into your heart. I like the emotion with which you write, it's palpable and has a lot of texture. Of course, there are a few little grammatical, tense and syntax issues, but I think that you could easily put together your stories (with a good edit) into something that people would simply read in awe. Experience is worth more than mastery.

[bluessadmood]

thank you,i am glad you liked it..ha ha,ohh i will never forget that trip..like some acute bend on the road of my life..ha ha

[Larry Dyson]

lots of misspelling and story line wanders...need to rewrite it and put the sentences in order and explain things with more details...

[Nobody.]

the world is a nasty little place filled with nasty little creatures. it is a shame that anyone should face what is described here. politicians crush us like ants and we are supposed to follow their orders. I'm sorry anyone has to be beaten down and pulled from family like this. it is horrible.

I wish I could say that I believe it will all get better, and the world will be a wonderfu place. But it won't, and it will happen again. And we will all suffer for the mistakes of the few who lead us.

Well written!

[.]

glad that you can share your world with us..the media give such a gabbled view that we are loathed to believe what we are spoon fed..My friend, firstly glad that you are safe and sorry for your family and having to leave them behind..but you have taken the steps to move forward with your life and I commend you...thank you and humbled for your sharing this

[Helena]

Blues, firstly I want to say I am so happy that you are putting pen to paper again and writing harsh reality and telling us things that most of us can only read about. Reading your words reinforce how fortunate we are that we don't endure things that would absolutely horrify. How do you stand it Moayad, day after miserable day? Reality bites hard my friend and I thank you for sharing your experiences with us. God bless and keep safe!

PS. Too late to tell me no tears....very touching and heroic write.

[Wondering Mind]

By reading your words, one realizes how much the global society owes Iraqis. Since the UN block until today, your suffering continues and grows more brutal. I pray that it all ends in Peace and happiness and Iraq is once more.

[ScarlettTheDreamer]

Wow, you have one strong soul sir that most of us wish to have.

[Kasey Klein]

a tragic, gripping tale of the human experience.

[A.A.Romanczuk]

Oh how You tear at the heartstrings with Your story...sadness and weariness and the strength of survival..are woven into every line...the caged bird wants to sing...to fly...and the caged bird chases his freedom...despite the hardship that entails...beautiful...this is..beautiful...