You decide that you cannot leave your brother behind, and so your family leaves no stone unturned. Finally, you can get in touch with someone who works at the Embassy of Romania in Iraq and is willing to help. It works out, and the person manages to get your brother’s name on the list.

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It is 6 in the morning, and you are asked to reach a location. Your family is asked not to reveal their destination at any cost, and the women are specifically asked to wear clothes “suitable” for a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, which includes long, loose-fitted clothes and a hijab.

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Even though for the longest you have tried your best to get your documents and go to a safer place, your heart still feels heavy to leave your home.