A Land of Permanent Goodbyes

Tareq and Susan are driven to a hospital, along with others from their boat, so that Susan can be checked out more thoroughly. Jamila is worried about her sister, who was in the other boat with the Afghan refugees and hasn’t been found. Tareq encourages her to speak to a woman at the hospital. Jamila is at first hesitant but then agrees: “The fact that the volunteer was a woman made it easier. She can’t hurt me. She calmed herself with that thought” (213).

Tareq leaves Jamila and goes to check on Susan, who is doing well. A doctor from Spain, Dr. Raquel, is helping her. Tareq speaks with a man, Hashem, who is a volunteer translator. His parents are Syrian, but he was born in London; he speaks Arabic. Tareq tells Hashem that there are many people who hate Syrian refugees. Hashem says it’s not hate but fear, and he assures Tareq that there are people all over the world who care. Tareq replies: “We are the ones who have suffered. How can complete strangers be afraid of those who have seen what real suffering is? They can’t be afraid of the weak.