Baby Lian’s innocent eyes blinked rapidly
Baby Lian’s innocent eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to make sense of the chaos around her. The sudden loud bangs and rattling of windows had startled her from her peaceful slumber, and now she lay there, crying uncontrollably, as the smell of smoke and ash filled her tiny nostrils.
Her mother, who had been nursing her, was now lying motionless beside her, a pool of blood slowly spreading around her. Lian reached out to touch her mother’s face, but her small hands were too weak to move her. She whimpered in confusion and fear, not understanding what had happened.
Looking around, Lian saw that the room was in shambles. The walls had crumbled, and the roof had collapsed in places. Dust and debris were everywhere. Her mother and Three members of her family were injured, who had been staying with them, were also injured, lying in a heap beside her. And a woman killed
The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, and Lian could hear people shouting and crying. She didn’t know what was happening, but she knew it was bad. Suddenly, she felt someone lift her up, and she saw a kind face looking down at her.
“It’s okay, little one,” the woman said, holding Lian close. “We’ll get you out of here.”
As they stepped out of the ruined house, Lian saw the devastation all around her. Other buildings had also been destroyed, and people were running for their lives. She could hear the sound of gunfire and more explosions in the distance.
As they made their way to safety, Lian’s tears slowed, and she drifted off to sleep. It was the only way she could escape the horror of what had just happened. But even in her dreams, she could feel the pain and loss that surrounded her.
Days later, Lian learned that her mother was injured. The other members of her family had survived but were in critical condition. Lian was lucky to have been rescued in time, but her life would never be the same.
Assad’s forces had destroyed her home and killed her family, all in the name of power and control. Lian had no idea what that meant, but she knew that it had caused immeasurable suffering. It was just another day in Syria, a place where heartbreak and tragedy were all too common.
