Chapter Twelve: The Attempt

Days passed slowly in the camp, and the conditions grew harsher with each passing day. The cold weather and relentless winds added new layers of hardship to their daily lives, yet Abboud and Abbas held onto hope with difficulty. The tents were cramped and barely protected them from the rain, and the health conditions were dire, with only limited medical supplies and facilities.

Abbas (in a low voice, looking up at the cold sky): "Do you think we’ll ever make it to Germany?"

Abboud (reaching out to strengthen Abbas's resolve): "Yes, we will. We have to believe that. This isn’t the end; it’s just another stop along the way."

The two began to plan their next step. Staying in the camp for much longer meant losing hope of improving their situation, so Abboud and Abbas decided to look for another chance to escape. They didn’t have many options. It was clear that life in the camp wouldn’t lead to any dramatic changes, and the situation was worsening by the day.

One day, during a conversation with a refugee who had spent a long time in the camp, they learned about a small group of smugglers who secretly transported refugees from Bulgaria to Serbia. The plan was risky, but they had no other choice. Reaching Germany was their sole objective, so they had to go to Serbia to continue the journey to Germany, and they were ready to do anything to achieve it.

Abbas (sitting in the tent beside Abboud, speaking in a whisper): "I heard from one of the men here that there are smugglers who can help us cross the border into Serbia."

Abboud (thinking deeply): "But we’ve tried smugglers before, and it ended with us stuck here. We can’t risk it again the same way."

Abbas (in a serious tone): "This time is different. I heard they use new methods—fake documents or commercial vehicles to smuggle people."

Abboud (placing his head in his hands): "Okay, but how are we going to pay them? We used up everything we had on the last attempt."

They began looking for a way to gather the necessary money and discovered that the smugglers were willing to take part of the payment upfront and the rest once they reached Serbia. The deal was risky, but they had no other option. They sat down with the smugglers to finalize the details and steps they would need to follow. This time, the plan involved a more cautious approach, avoiding the dangerous land routes that had failed them before.

A week of planning and waiting later, the day finally arrived. The smugglers’ promised vehicle came in the night, a closed truck resembling a commercial vehicle. Abboud and Abbas slipped inside with a group of other refugees, hearts pounding with fear and anticipation, but both determined that this was their last chance.

The truck's back doors slammed shut, locking them in with the others, and the engine roared to life. As the truck began its journey through the night, they knew that the next few hours would determine their future. There was no turning back now; they were ready to face whatever came next in their pursuit of a new life in Germany.