Chapter Twenty: Emotions

Aboud felt a rush of mixed emotions—surprise, confusion, and joy—all at once. He never expected to hear Abbas' name after all these years, and even more so, he never expected Abbas to be able to reach him after everything they had been through. He sat across from the lawyer, trying to process the situation.

Aboud (with a voice full of wonder): "Abbas...? How is he? How did he manage to reach me?"

Lawyer (with a reassuring smile): "Abbas is well. He’s now living in Germany. After everything he went through, he was able to settle there and start a new life. When he learned about what happened to you, he decided to do everything in his power to help you. He hired me to handle your case here in Bulgaria."

Memories flooded Aboud’s mind—those moments when Abbas had to run while calling his name, as Aboud was brutally beaten by the guards. He never imagined their paths would cross again. He had always thought about Abbas, wondering if he had made it to Germany safely.

Aboud (his voice trembling with emotion): "I didn’t know... I thought I would never see him again. Is he really in Germany? And is he doing well?"

Lawyer (reassuringly): "Yes, he’s doing well. But he’s never forgotten you. He told me how much he considers you more than just a friend. You are brothers in this journey, and now he’s trying to repay the favor. When he found out you were in prison, he decided we had to work on getting you out."

Aboud could hardly believe what he was hearing. It wasn’t just the news that Abbas was living a new life in Germany; it was that Abbas hadn’t forgotten their friendship, and despite everything he’d gone through, he hadn’t abandoned him. This made Aboud feel that all those years of suffering and injustice weren’t in vain.

Aboud (with a tone of gratitude and disbelief): "I can’t believe it... After everything we went through, and after everything that happened, Abbas still remembers me?"

Lawyer (firmly): "Of course he remembers you. He believes this is the least he can do. He told me your story, how crossing the borders was one of the biggest challenges you both faced. Abbas knows things aren’t easy here, but he believes we can do something for you."

Aboud felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his chest. After years of loneliness and suffering inside his cell, here was a new hope dawning. The thought that someone still cared for him, someone trying to help him, made him feel that the world wasn’t entirely cruel.

Aboud (dreamily): "Germany... I never thought I would reach it. I had thought the dream was over, but Abbas... he’s giving me new hope."

Lawyer (seriously): "The road isn’t easy, Aboud. But we are working hard for you. Abbas has raised some money to help cover the legal costs, and we are exploring options to appeal the sentence. We have several strong reasons that make us believe we can reduce your sentence, or at least shorten its duration."

This news was like a refreshing wave to Aboud’s hope-starved heart. He looked at the lawyer with tear-filled eyes and spoke in a soft voice:

Aboud: "I can’t thank Abbas enough... He’s brought hope back into my life."

Lawyer: "That’s what friends do, Aboud. But now, you need to stay strong. There’s still work to be done. We’ll need testimonials, and we’ll work on showing the circumstances you were going through when the confrontation with the guard happened."

Aboud sat for a few more minutes with the lawyer, discussing the details of the case and talking about the hardships he’d faced since entering prison. The lawyer laid out the plan he had crafted and promised Aboud he would do everything he could to file a strong appeal.

Lawyer (before leaving): "Stay strong, Aboud. This isn’t the end. We have a good chance, and don’t forget—Abbas is waiting for you in Germany. We’ll do everything we can to make that happen."

When the lawyer left the cell, Aboud was filled with a swirl of emotions. For the first time in years, he felt a glimmer of hope at the end of this dark tunnel. Aboud sat back on his bed and took a deep breath. He began to reflect on all the moments he had shared with Abbas and the long journey they had endured together. Despite everything he had been through, here he was, now holding onto new hope.