The Journalist

Part 41: Me and the Little Girl Part 2

I carried him and took him with us on the bike. He sits between me and So. With an old motorbike, we combed through the suburbs of Damascus that had just been ravaged by the war.

The atmosphere was so quiet gripping, where there was not a single street light. The right left of the building that had been hit by the bomb was nowhere to be seen. Just the smell of blood mixed with the night wind. If only I had worn a short-sleeved shirt, maybe my fur would have stood up straight. It felt like borrowing Doraemon's door so that he could get to our place immediately.

In the midst of our quiet journey, the little girl named Khalila actually stretched her hand to the side with an open palm. It reminds me of Ameena who had done the same thing when we were riding in the car of robbers in the desert. I also held out my hand behind his. Enjoying the breeze that hit my palm.

As soon as he reached our headquarters, he immediately devoured the food we bought on the way home. We looked at him with a sad feeling mixed with smell. Many children are victims of war. They were lost because of the loss of their parents.

"Ayano, will this child continue to live with us? Wouldn't it be a little troublesome for us? How about we hold coverage for days out of town? Are we gonna leave him here alone? Or take him on a dangerous assignment?"

Eiji expressed his objection to the presence of Khalila in our midst. I understand, what he said has a point. I also considered this during the trip.

"Don't worry, tomorrow I'll help him find his family" I said, looking at Khalila who had just finished eating, "Sister, you said you and your mother only came there to hand out groceries to the citizens, right? Then, do you know where you live?"

Khalila nodded small. I asked again, "Where do you live? Let me take you there!"

Khalila just flinching. I think he's too small to memorize his home address. He hid behind me as Aoba approached him.

"Don't be afraid! He was my girlfriend I was telling you about," I whispered.

"It's so pretty, like a doll!" Aoba pinched his gaunt cheek, "you slept with me tonight, huh?"

Khalila looked at me with a frowning look. I smiled, then squatted in front of him.

"He said you slept with him tonight" I explained.

Khalila shook her head with a face full of disapproval.

"Why don't you want to?"

"I want to sleep with Blonde!"

I round my eyes. "Are you sure?"

He nodded quickly. I looked at So with a resigned look. As if understanding, So nodded in agreement. Me and the little girl shared a bed together. While So relents by sleeping on the floor and Eiji sleeps in Aoba's room.

The next day, I took Khalila to a refugee camp where the area was the scene of yesterday's war. The conditions of this shelter are more concerning than any refugee camps I have ever been to. They have not received any help, including food and drink.

I asked one by one the people I met. "Do you know this boy? I mean ... Do you know the parents of this child?"

"Sorry, I don't know!" These are the average answers I ask.

Every time I visit the tent, I spend a few bills because the refugees are helping me. I who carry nothing, can only give the money in my wallet to them.

After two hours of sweat baths combing through each tent just to ask, Khalila and I decided to sit down under a dry tree. I gulped down some mineral water to wash my dry throat. For a moment, my gaze turned to Khalila who kept looking at me. I then handed him a mineral bottle. However, he shook his head.

"Have ... been ... Don't do that for me!" I held her wrist.

Eiji sent a message containing the post of repatriation of the missing child. He said I could get Khalila there, so they would find her parents there.

Reading the message, I rushed Khalila there. As soon as I arrived at the post, the officer wondered me about where and how I found this little girl. After answering a few questions, the man brought his face closer to me as if he was about to whisper something.

"Look ... You said you found this kid at the war site yesterday, right? If you leave him here, there's a good chance he'll be taken by the government army and put in a special children's prison" the man cautiously whispered.

"Why is that?" I reacted in shock.

"You found this kid in a location occupied by the rebels. The government is on the verge of mass arrests of the rebels, including his wife's son. If you really want to leave this kid here, that's fine. But, I can't guarantee that I can take her to her parents' place."

I'm tergugu. My heart is torn to hear it. My head turned towards Khalila who was sitting swinging her two legs while sucking on the lollipop quietly. He threw a smile when he realized I was looking at him. I hurried to get him out of there.

"Bond brother where are we going?"

I stopped walking, then looked at him carefully. "Sister, do you know your home address? I'll take you home immediately."

"My place is very far away. I'm afraid to trouble you," he replied with blinking eyes.

I laughed, rubbing his head. "Then, do you want to stay with me? Don't you miss your parents?" ask again.

"I miss. But, I also want you to meet my mother."

"If you want me to meet your mother, then tell me where you live. We'll go together to see your parents."

A few hours later, I sat at the table staring at the laptop screen with So, Eiji and Aoba. We read information about the little village that Khalila just mentioned.

"Ayano, are you seriously going to take her there? This place is quite far away and controlled by the rebels. The parents of this child are certainly from the rebel stronghold" said Aoba.

"I told you to put him in that post! Why didn't you do it?" eiji Protest.

"I agree with what Aoba and Eiji said. Did you forget what happened when you drove a woman to a refugee camp? We don't want you to experience it again! Remember, you'll be back in Japan soon."

"In addition, we have never covered in the area because the place is isolated. Journalists and journalists are the biggest enemies of them. What if they take you prisoner of the government?" eiji said while shaking his waist.

"Don't worry! This time I promise to go home safely and on time." I bowed in full, as if asking for their blessing and support.

Aoba, Eiji and So looked at each other while sighing. Apparently, none of them were able to break my stance. Khalila and I exchanged glances with smiles on our lips.

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