One day, I sat near a canal, watching the water move quietly beneath the bridge. And I whispered to myself, "This water is calm, not like the one that almost killed me. I remembered my mother's face the morning I left, the warmth of her hands pressing naan into mine.I remembered her last look -part blessing, part heartbreak.I had carried her prayers across ten countries. But now, in the safety of Europe, I realized how heavy those prayers had become. Because she was still there, in a land where freedom had no meaning. I often asked myself, Was my freedom worth her waiting?
