Young Sama lost all her hair through fear, a direct result of the mental trauma she experienced when tanks moved into the area where she lived in Gaza City. The terror of the event left a deep impression upon her mind, and the scars are not outward but inward.
When the tanks moved forward, Sama and her mother, Amal, had to vacate their home. They walked kilometres, their hearts racing in terror. During the walk, Sama saw dozens of corpses lying along the streets – children and adults. The sight was harrowing, and the smell of death hung heavy in the air. Among the lifeless forms, Sama recognised one of her school friends. The shock of seeing her friend’s body was a blow that left her numb and trembling.
The walk was hard and long. Every step was a struggle, and the weight of their grief made it harder. Sama clung to her mother’s hand, comforted by the one thing that did not shift from her anymore. Amal, despite fear and misery, remained steadfast for her daughter. She whispered reassuring words, urging Sama to walk on.
Sama’s mother, Amal, told me that she never cries in front of her daughter, striving to shield her from further emotional anguish. Yet every night, Amal lies awake, tears streaming down her cheeks as she worries about her daughter’s future. She gazes at Sama’s shaved head, her mind full of questions. Will Sama ever live a life similar to other girls? How will she be among her friends? These are questions that haunt her every day.
The pain of their loss was compounded by the memory of Sama’s father, who had been killed in an earlier attack. His absence left a void that could never be filled. Amal often found herself staring at his picture, her heart heavy with grief. She know she had to be strong for Sama, but the weight of their shared sorrow was overwhelming.
One evening, when the sun had fallen below the horizon, and lit their small house with a golden glow, Amal sat beside Sama, stroking her fingers lightly along the smoothness of her daughter’s head. Sama raised her head, eyes wide and searching. Amal saw not only the pain and the fear in that moment, but the strength and resilience in her daughter’s eyes as well. She saw that Sama was not defined by what had happened to her, but by her own determination to rise above it each day.
Amal’s heart swelled with a mix of sadness and pride. She spoke in a low voice, “You are so brave, my dear Sama. You are stronger than you know.” Sama’s eyes brimmed over with tears and she stretched out her hand to hold on to her mother’s. The bond between them, forged in the fire of their shared experience, was unbreakable.
As they sat together, the tears ran freely from mother and daughter. They cried for the lost innocence, for the so far distant dream, and for the uncertain future. But within their tears was also an immense feeling of connection and love. They didn’t need words to convey pain; their shared glance did it all.
In the following days, Amal noticed Sama transform. She smiled more often, finding small things to be happy about in their everyday life. She picked up drawing again, her artwork full of colors and positive images. Amal realised that even though the road ahead would not be smooth, they would treat it together, hand in hand, with love and unbreakable support.
Their story became a testament to the power of resilience and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child. It reminded everyone who heard it that even in the darkest times, love and hope could light the way forward.
As the weeks turned into months, Sama’s strength continued to grow. She began to speak more openly about her experiences, sharing her story. Her bravery inspired those around her, and myself, and became a symbol of hope for me.
Eliezer Rodriguez 2025.
Frontline Pulse 