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<h1>IT WAS JUST A DREAM</h1>	It was just a dream. Mariam lay quietly dreaming of her family’s last barbeque on an October afternoon. She could almost smell the musky sweetness of the fallen leaves. She tried to ignore the constant hum of the fighter jets. They had been flying over the Southern Suburbs of Beirut for months now, terrorising the population with their fancy sonic booms. Suddenly, the whole room shook violently. An explosion was followed by the sound of metal, concrete and glass crashing to the ground. Smoke was billowing outside her window.“What was that?” she shouted running to the living room.“That wasn’t just a sonic blast!” her brother, Yahya cried, rushing towards the balcony. He stopped in his tracks as their mother, Fatima, screamed. “Stop! Don’t go out there!” Another two huge blasts exploded within seconds of each other, and Mariam grabbed the door frame trying to keep balance against the pressure wave. Glass from the slide doors flew towards them. She watched in horror as huge shards sliced Yahya’s arms and legs.He let out a blood-curdling howl, “Ahhhhhhh.” They all rushed towards him.“Go and get towels, quickly!” yelled Fatima.Miriam turned and sprinted to the laundry cupboard, glass crunching beneath her shoes, her heart racing with adrenaline. Handing over the towels, she watched as her mother covered the biggest gash on Yahya’s arm. She shuddered. She saw his bone.“Hold this in place. Press it hard. We must stop the bleeding!” ordered Fatima.Holding the white towel, Mariam watched, hypnotised, as it began to turn red. Warm blood oozed through her fingers. Her hands were shaking, but she looked steadily into her younger brother’s frightened eyes. She knew she had to be strong for him.“Don’t cry. It’ll be ok. They’ll sew you up just like Harry Kane!” Mariam said. Yahya loved watching football and had been impressed when they stitched the cut above Harry’s eye in the middle of a match. He flashed a pitiful smile, lying in a pool of his own blood. Then he closed his eyes. Mariam watched his chest rising and falling, as she prayed he would be okay.“Hello! Anyone there?” Someone was yelling from outside the apartment. “Anyone need help?”“I’ll hold this quick! Go and open!” Fatima snapped, taking control of the soaking towel.Mariam slipped as she stood up. She crashed down, splashing in the sticky puddle of her own blood. She struggled up again, more carefully this time. Her eyes scanned her legs. Her jeans were a strange colour purple. Then she saw it. A huge gush on her thigh was pumping blood. A wave of shock and pain surged through her body. Her leg felt weak and her head dizzy. But she had to move. She had to open the door. The last thing she saw before everything went black, was a paramedic, rushing to the rescue. &gt;&gt;&gt;…&lt;&lt;&lt;The river babbled over the pebbles and rocks, as if they were a symphony accompanying Yahya’s happy song. He spun as he sang and danced, spraying the icy water around in circles. All the leaves are falling down,Orange, yellow, red, and brown.Falling softly as they do,Over me and over you.Miriam laughed, joining in with the song from the riverbank. She threw the leaves in the air and watched as they drifted back down to the ground. “Come on, come swim with me!” Yahya yelled.She approached the edge of the water, bracing herself for the moment the icy water touched her bare skin.“Stop splashing! Or I won’t come in!”Every nerve came alive with electricity as she gradually lowered her feet. Slowly, she walked out, feeling a strange exhilaration in the crisp, refreshing embrace of water. Once she was up to her waist, Yahya, who had been waiting patiently to strike, attacked. He kicked enormous waves upon waves of frigid water.“Ahhhh,” Mariam screamed. “Stop splashing! Stop it now!”&gt;&gt;&gt;…&lt;&lt;&lt;	Mariam screamed, an ear-piercing scream, which echoed around the whole ward.	“There, there, sweetheart! You’re safe now. It was just a dream,” the nurse said as she rushed in. She patted Mariams hand.	“Where’s Yahya? Where’s my mother?” Mariam shrieked, scanning the room and out the door.	“Your mom is in the cafeteria. You’ve been unconscious for a couple of days. You lost a lot of blood. Relax, okay. You’re safe here!” The nurse patted her hand kindly. “I’ll get her for you.”	Miriam’s leg ached and she peeped under the crisp white sheet. Bandages covered the gash on her thigh. Then she remembered. Yahya, where was her little brother?	She wiggled to the edge of the bed. She had to find Yahya. As she stood up, her head started spinning and everything went black. Her mother caught her as she fell.&gt;&gt;&gt;…&lt;&lt;&lt;	Smoke wafted around the riverbank. The scrumptious smell of barbequed steak forced Miriam’s stomach to remember it was empty. Her mother stood, tongs in hand, in the shade of a huge weeping willow. Its colourful leaves floated down with every gust of wind. Miriam relaxed as she bathed in the warm sun, on a huge rock, in the middle of the river. She watched a lizard, basking on another rock nearby and smiled to herself. They shared the same soothing warmth, the same peaceful reflection. She could hear a European Robin’s cheerful sweet notes. Scanning the bush, she saw its orange-red breast. It hopped quickly from branch to branch, then suddenly fluttered away. 	“Miriam, Miriam!” her mother shrilled.&gt;&gt;&gt;…&lt;&lt;&lt;	Miriam opened her eyes. Confused, she gazed around her. She was in a hospital bed. She remembered her little brother.	“Mom, where’s Yahya?” she shrieked, attempting to get out of bed again. 	Her mother held her gently down, stroking her long brown hair. Miriam saw the tears in her mother’s eyes and her heart started pounding, aching as if it was going to explode.	“He’s gone, Miriam. He’s gone to heaven!”	“Noooo! Nooo! Please GOD, NOOOO!”	They held each other and sobbed.&nbsp;Miriam closed her eyes again, trying to go back to the river. But it was just a dream.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Yahya's Song

Annabel

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Yahya's Song

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Bella Little

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