Chapter Fifty-Six: The Reunion

After the perplexing call with John, Aboud sat on his bed, overwhelmed by the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. Amid all the chaos, there was one person who could ease the heavy burden he carried: Leila. Her love was the one thing that gave his life meaning in these difficult times. He grabbed his phone and began to call her, feeling a deep yearning for every word she would say.

Aboud (with a voice full of longing): "Hello, Leila... How are you?"

On the other end, Leila had been eagerly waiting for this call. She felt a sense of relief upon hearing Aboud’s voice.

Leila (in a soft but loving tone): "Aboud, I’ve been waiting for your call. I have some happy news finally... My passport is ready."

Aboud felt a rush of joy fill his heart. After all the obstacles they had faced, his dream of reuniting with Leila felt closer than ever. He knew that this meant the next step would be preparing all the necessary paperwork for the reunion process.

Aboud (smiling): "That's amazing, Leila! Finally, we can start the next steps. I'll go to the authorities here in Germany tomorrow to begin the reunion process. Everything feels so close now."

Leila (with optimism in her voice): "I’m so happy, Aboud. I can’t wait to be with you. After everything we’ve been through, we’re finally going to be together."

Aboud (reassuringly): "I feel the same way, Leila. We’ve been through so much, but we’re almost there. I’ll do everything I can to speed up the process. Soon, you’ll be here with me."

After the call ended, Aboud sat for a while, reflecting on everything that had happened and the future he was building with Leila. Despite the complexities, he felt that things were starting to move in the right direction. He knew that getting her passport was a big step, and the reunion process would be another step toward the happiness they both longed for.

Aboud (to himself): "Leila... I'll do everything I can for you. Your love is what gives me the strength to keep going."

The next day, Aboud was ready to head to the authorities to begin the paperwork for the reunion process. He knew the road ahead was still full of challenges, but he was prepared to face them all to reach his goal.

That night, Aboud slept a little more peacefully, knowing that the goal he had been working toward was becoming clearer. He was ready for the next phase of his life with Leila, but he also knew that another battle with the organization was looming.

Aboud (with determination): "I won’t let anything stop us. That’s a promise."

The next morning, Aboud woke up feeling a bit more optimistic. He believed that the next step would be a straightforward procedure to start the reunion process with Leila. He quickly got dressed and headed to the government office responsible for refugee and immigration affairs. He carried all the necessary documents with him, and his only concern was how to speed up the process. He sat in the waiting room, feeling his heart race with excitement and nervousness.

Aboud (to himself): "It won’t be long now before Leila is here with me. This is just a simple step, and it will be over soon."

After a few minutes, the government official called his name. Aboud approached the desk, where an elderly man sat, appearing both stern and calm.

The official (in a formal tone): "Hello, Aboud. I see you're here to begin the family reunion process."

Aboud (with a slight smile): "Yes, exactly. Leila's passport is ready, and we have all the required documents."

The official quickly reviewed the papers Aboud handed over and then began explaining things slowly.

The official (calmly): "Well, just so you're aware... The reunion process may take longer than you expect."

Aboud (nervously): "Longer? How long are we talking about?"

The official (in a steady voice): "In general, it takes anywhere from one to two years in most cases. And sometimes, applications are rejected for various reasons."

Aboud felt like a lightning bolt had struck him. He had expected the process to be much faster. All the hopes he had for a quick reunion with Leila seemed to vanish before his eyes.

Aboud (in shock): "One to two years? That’s way too long! I was hoping the process would be quicker. Leila and I have been waiting for so long."

The official (calmly and realistically): "I understand your feelings, but that’s the standard processing time. There are many factors that affect how quickly the process moves, and some applications are rejected due to legal issues or failure to meet the necessary criteria."

Aboud (in a distressed voice): "And what if it's rejected? What can I do then?"

The official (calmly): "You can file an appeal, but even that can take time. Unfortunately, there aren’t many fast solutions in these cases."

Aboud left the office feeling deeply disappointed. The shock was greater than he had imagined. Everything had seemed so close, but now it felt like he was back at square one. How was he going to tell Leila? How could they endure such a long wait after being so close to reuniting?

Aboud (to himself): "What will I tell Leila? How can we wait another year or more?"

His mind was racing with thoughts, and he began considering all the possibilities. He wasn’t ready to wait for a year or more, but the options available to him were extremely limited.

When he returned to his apartment, Aboud sat down and thought about everything he had heard. The time it would take for the reunion was unbearably long. He started thinking of other ways to speed up the process or find an alternative.

Aboud (deep in thought): "Is there another way? Can I find a way to make this happen faster? I can’t leave Leila waiting for that long."

He began looking for other solutions, maybe contacting a lawyer or trying to find a shortcut to bring Leila to him more quickly. But he knew the challenges ahead would be significant.

Aboud picked up his phone and called Leila. It was difficult for him to deliver bad news, but he knew he had to be honest with her.

Leila (with hope in her voice): "Hi, Aboud! Is everything okay? How did things go at the office?"

Aboud (hesitantly and sadly): "Leila, I have some news that you won’t like... It seems the reunion process will take longer than we thought. It could take a year or more."

Leila (in shock): "What? A year? But we’ve already waited so long... How can we wait even more?"

Aboud (reassuringly): "I know, Leila. It’s just as hard for me as it is for you, but I’ll look for solutions. I’ll do everything I can to speed things up. I won’t let you wait alone."

As Aboud ended the call, he felt sadness and worry, but he was determined to find a solution. Leila deserved to be with him as soon as possible, and he was ready to do whatever it took to overcome this new obstacle.

Aboud (with firm resolve to himself): "I won’t let things stop here. I’ll find a way, no matter what."