Gaza War: The 6th Day – October 12, 2023

By: M. Mortaja

The morning light crept through the cracks of the window, and for a brief moment, everything felt still—deceptively so. After a night filled with unease and endless thoughts, I decided to head out. It wasn’t a normal outing, not in times like these. I was on a mission: to gather as much food and drink as I could. I didn’t know how much longer the markets would remain open or how long the goods would last. Every step outside was a calculated risk, but hunger was just as dangerous as the bombs falling from the sky.

I walked through the neighborhood, eyes scanning the surroundings as if I were memorizing every stone, every tree, every familiar shop. What I didn’t know then was that this would be the last time I would see my street—my home—as it was. Tomorrow, everything would change. But on that day, I was still unaware.

The markets were tense. People scrambled for supplies. I managed to get some essentials—water, canned food, rice, and a few things to keep the children fed and calm. There was a kind of madness in the air, like everyone felt something was coming, even if we couldn’t name it yet.

When I returned home, my daughters ran to me with their usual joy. My little girl sham 8, with her eyes full of excitement despite everything around her, tugged at my hand and said, “Baba, tomorrow can we go to Kazem’s?”

Kazem’s—the little ice cream and sweets shop she loved.

I looked at her, smiled, and said, “Tomorrow, inshallah.”

I didn’t know how heavy that promise would become.

That evening, we tried to create some sense of normalcy. We ate dinner together, laughed a little, and told the girls bedtime stories. My wife, still strong despite the weight she carried—both physically and emotionally—looked at me and whispered, “Do you think things will calm down?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t know how.

In the back of my mind, I felt a storm approaching. But I buried the thought. That night, as I looked out the window, I stared at the street, unaware that I was saying goodbye without even knowing it.

Gaza War: The 6th Day

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