Sana'a

Prologue

I was running as fast as I could through a school yard, rushing against the stream of wild kids. Turning a left, I spotted the corner of the yard and I gripped onto the cement wall as I slammed against it. The rough edge of the wall roughly dug into my fingers, but I had to cling myself to get over the other side. My heavy breathing was getting painful, and my legs dragged me for another turn despite the pounding pain in the souls of my feet. There, I pulled into a small opening between two buildings standing quietly next to suffocating bags of trash.

Why had I decided to stop going to the gym? I scolded myself regretting my bad decisions and bad shape.

I heard the footsteps of those who were following me as they ran past my new secret hiding spot and their voices slowing fading away.

Until I heard no more, I stepped onto the streets, pulling on my collar adjusting my coat, and straightened up my sleeves walking carefully to my car.

It was my fault anyway that those guys wanted to rob me. I shouldn't have wore my golden watch when I was volunteering at the mosque. It brought too much attention from people who couldn't afford it.