Chapter Twenty-Nine: Betrayal or an Uncertain Fate?

The days passed slowly for Aboud inside the prison walls, but something inside him had changed. He was no longer the weak young man who had entered prison broken. After years of suffering and training under Grigor’s guidance, Aboud had become stronger and more cautious. Yet despite his newfound strength, one thing occupied his mind constantly: Where was Grigor? Why hadn’t he sent anyone as promised?

On a sunny morning, the guard came, as usual, to summon Aboud to sign the final papers before his deportation to Syria.

Guard (in a formal tone):
"Aboud, it’s time to sign your papers. You’ll be transferred soon."

Aboud showed no sign of disturbance. He stood confidently and headed toward the administrative office. In front of him lay the papers, waiting for his signature. He took the pen in his hand, but inside, he wondered, “Where is the person Grigor promised?”

Administrative Officer (in a cold voice):
"These are your deportation papers. You need to sign here and here."

Aboud looked at the papers as if they were the final breath of the new life he had hoped to live outside of prison. But he didn’t want to show any weakness, so he smiled lightly before signing the papers.

Aboud (composed):
"Alright, I’ll sign. But I have a question. Has anyone tried to contact me recently? Someone from abroad?"

Administrative Officer (surprised):
"No one. Are you expecting a visitor?"

Aboud smiled faintly and said,
"Something like that."

He signed the papers and handed them back to the officer, but inside, he felt a bitterness. Where was Grigor? Why hadn’t he sent anyone as promised? Had he betrayed his trust, or had something happened to him, preventing him from keeping his word?

Aboud returned to his cell to spend his final hours before deportation. He sat alone in the corner, his eyes staring at the wall, but he wasn’t truly seeing it. All he could see were images of Grigor, his promises, and his words echoing in his mind repeatedly.

Aboud (to himself):
"Did he betray me? Did he lie to me? Or is there something else?"

He knew Grigor wasn’t a man to betray easily, but doubt began to creep into his mind. Everything seemed suspiciously orchestrated—the promise, the plan—and now, he faced his fate alone. He didn’t want to believe he had been deceived, but inside, there was a part of him filled with anger and disappointment.

That evening, the guards came to take Aboud from his cell. This was the moment he had envisioned in many different ways. Would he escape? Would someone sent by Grigor come to rescue him at the last minute? But now, there was no one.

Guard (in a serious tone):
"It’s time to leave, Aboud. You’ll be taken to the airport now."

There was no fear in Aboud’s eyes, only defiance. Despite everything that had happened and the doubts that had crept in about Grigor, he wasn’t about to let himself break. He stood firm and headed toward the bus that would take him to the airport.

Aboud (to himself):
"Whatever happens… I’ll get out of this. Even if Grigor isn’t here, I’ll find my way."

The road to the airport was long and quiet, but Aboud’s mind was not. The bus passed through streets and roads he hadn’t seen in years, but they didn’t concern him. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Grigor and the promise he had made. "Was it all a lie?" These questions echoed relentlessly, but he refused to surrender to this doubt entirely.

At that moment, Aboud’s sense of confidence and determination returned. He was no longer the weak young man who had once run from his fate. Now, after all those years in prison and all the training and lessons he had learned from Grigor, he knew one thing: he had to rely on himself.

Aboud (quietly to himself):
"If no one comes to save me, I’ll find my own way out."

When he arrived at the airport, he was taken to the deportees' waiting area. Aboud sat in the corner of the room, surrounded by guards who watched every move. But what occupied his mind was his escape plan. Was there still a final chance? Would someone show up at the last minute, or would he have to rely entirely on himself?

He began thinking about all the skills Grigor had taught him and how he could use them in this moment. "If no one comes to save me, I’ll save myself," Aboud whispered to himself confidently.

As he waited in the airport, Aboud watched the people around him. He knew this was the decisive moment. If he didn’t act now, he would end up in Syria, and that was something he had been trying to avoid for all these years.

He started planning his next move. He thought about attempting to slip away from the guards the moment they tried to transfer him to the plane. He knew the chances were slim, but he had learned one thing in prison: life doesn’t offer many opportunities, and if you get one, you must seize it at any cost.

Aboud (in a calm but determined voice):
"I will get out of here... I will find my way."

In that moment, Aboud no longer waited for someone to save him. He had become the master of his fate.