So, you think you know Syria?

The first signs of Hell appeared when I opened my door.
I was confronted by soldiers who called my wife a wh0re.
The soldiers spat that I would be shot unless I joined their war.
A concerned neighbor appeared to investigate the commotion.
The soldiers hissed the same threat to him as they waved their guns in motion.
"Please I want no part in this war!" cried my neighbor using all his emotion.
"I want nothing but peace and calm for my family" my neighbor pleaded.
Seconds later, blood across his face was beaded.
As my neighbor lay dying, the soldiers laughed and joked that his life was no longer needed.
A solider smashes my face and pins me to the ground.
The solider looks venomously at me and shouts "Your wife and child I demand!"
My family are abused in my view, their pain and suffering I cannot withstand.
I am defenseless and helpless as I am forced to watch and pray for it to end.
My wife endures the suffering whilst trying not to offend.
When the soldiers left us, our life's I wanted to end, I cannot pretend.

Later that night I lay awake traumatised but knew I had to protect my loved ones.
I was no match for the soldiers and their guns.
But what will happen to them all, the fathers, and the sons?
An explosion rips through the street as I hear houses and buildings collapse.
My entire street is now filled with gaps.
My decision has been made. We must flee this country before the soldiers spread traps.
Within seconds I urge my wife and daughter to get dressed,
the urgency in my voice communicates that I am distressed.
I am trying to be strong but I have had little to no rest.
My wife and daughter remain traumatised and petrified,
but if we stay we will be the victims of genocide,
nonetheless we are all still terrified.
I look into both their eyes and tell them things will be tough but we will be alright.
Were move quickly and stay out of the light.
I tell them, if it comes to it, I will fight and defend them with all my might.

I grab a bag and fill it with essential possessions,
knowing that the events in this house will always leave a lasting impression.
We could all die tonight. I know this. But I cannot use my anger as an expression.
I gather up our life's savings and tell my family were heading towards the border.
Two weeks on foot. Blisters. Hunger. Thirst. Aches. Pains. Agony. Sleep disorder.
All our life savings are given to a Smuggler who clearly believes in a pecking order.
My family need to rest but we are still at least a week away from the sea.
My daughter is so dehydrated she can barely even see.
I am trying to be strong but my stomach aches and I worry were never be free.
My wife experiences intensive stomach cramps and tells me she can't go on.
I grab her by the hip and do my best to force her along.
I keep telling them both "were almost there" but now that sounds like a broken song.
We finally make it to the sea but are ordered to stay put until midnight.
We collapse of exhaustion but are then awoken by moonlight.
Could this be our last night?

The ship is overpopulated and feels unsafe and unsteady.
Crying and screaming children everywhere. They are not ready.
My daughter cries into my shoulder, "can't my life end already?!"
The smell is overpowering and the desperation is crystal clear,
I can barely breathe as we are fused together by fear.
We could all drown tonight, yet I cannot shed a single tear.
Mothers cry hysterically as they look upon there malnourished babies,
other women look up towards the sky and yell "save me!"
The journey is unbearable, my vision starts to go hazy.
The nightmare continues for an unprecedented amount of time.
When the ship stops, people are offloaded into small boats. A mother sings a nursery rhyme.
Wresting and panic set in as people are manhandled by people of organised crime.
As our time come my family and I are squeezed into a broken boat,
our keeper grunts at us to keep silent or he'll cut our throat.
We drift out to sea. It is miracle we are still afloat.

We are dumped off on the sand and told to be on our way.
We walk for miles along a derelict coast line, trying not to sway.
My wife is limping, her eyes deep and sullen, and her face weak and pale.
A miracle later we arrive at a make shift camp placing our life on kind strangers.
Everything is lost, everything is gone. I thank the Lord we have overcome many dangers.
I thank the Angels for being saviors...