A Land of Permanent Goodbyes

The next morning, Tareq awakens in Uncle Waleed’s house. His Aunt Nada is brewing coffee. Aunt Nada is married to Uncle Waleed, Fayed’s brother. Although they weren’t blood relations, Nada was very closer to Tareq’s mother, almost like a sister. Nada and Waleed have one son, Musa, who is just one year younger than Tareq. The small family is visibly impacted by the war, as all have grown thinner.

Nada tries to comfort Tareq, but he is having a difficult time. He has nightmares of the bombing at night and struggles with survivor’s guilt: “He felt guilty for even thinking about why his mother was gone but Musa still had his—but it was there, with all the other thoughts he tried to shake out of his head” (49). When Musa asks if Tareq can join him on a drive to the shop, Tareq seizes the opportunity to escape the house and “those sympathetic stares” (51).

Musa drives the boys to the shop. The car ride is an opportunity to provide a closer look at how Daesh control has changed Raqqa, and for Musa and Tareq to catch up on all that has happened in Syria.