‘I was in a relationship with a girl from Aleppo University, where I was studying. But after the crisis started, I don’t know where she has gone.’
(You call it ´crisis´).
Do you still have contacts with someone in Aleppo?
‘Wallah (I swear): No. No one.’
University people, someone.. Relatives, friends. Think..
‘I wish I had. But no one.’
When was the last time you heard from her?
‘After the events started in Aleppo.’
(the ‘events’ you say)
2012?
‘Must have been around middle of that year. Maybe.’
Did the two of you have any friend in common? Someone you can look up?
‘In Syria you mean? No, no one.’
Love stories cannot end this way
‘I know. But with war, everything is possible.. I was studying with her, in the same department’
But how could it be that you lost contact immediately? Did you look up for her in Facebook, Twitter? Do you have a picture of her? You can look at Google Images and see if you find her
‘Nothing of this. She hadn’t a Facebook account, I lost my phone with her photos.’
I want to help you. How can I?
‘Hahaha. I forgot her. Maybe she is dead. She was such a beautiful girl. Smart. She loved me so much. She was such a giving person. She was even lending me her car. She used to invite me to her home to have food. With her parents. She was everything to them. She was their only child.’
Do you remember the father’s name, his job?
‘I think it was Ahmed. But I never asked her the last name of her family.’
Will you make me a promise?
‘Promise.’
Will you look for her?
‘I am always looking for her. But I have found nothing. She is also the one who lost contact with me. I think she is dead now.’
Do not say it…Do you think so?
‘After all that has happened, no one will remain alive.’
Maybe she left Aleppo long time ago
‘Maybe.’
(After a silence of 20 minutes. Long, heavy minutes)
‘Do you believe I will find her?’
Never give up hope, I believe
‘It’s impossible.’
Do you feel she is dead?
‘Yes. If she is still alive, she would be looking for me too. Because she loved me so much.’
Maybe she is looking for you
‘She knew everything about me, after I arrived to Yemen. I gave her my Facebook account, gmail, my phone number. And I have never changed it.
She promised me she would open a Facebook account, but nothing.
Do you know what? I stopped so many efforts to get married. Because of her. My parents wonder why I am not married yet. I told them I am waiting for someone. But till when?’
Till when you are ready to move on. This is why you have to find her. If not her, her fate.
Is the university closed?
‘In Aleppo, yes. The life has been closed, not only the university. I really feel so sad because I have mentioned this story. I know I made you sad with this. Sorry dear.
Her name is Hibah Ahmed, of the University of Aleppo – Faculty of Science, Biology Department.’
(you did not say Her name was)
The Broken Loves of War.
Love stories cannot end this way with wars getting in between.
I feel immensely naive, but I ask: Does anyone know of a beautiful girl named Hibah Ahmed who used to study at the University, in Aleppo, Faculty of Science, Biology Department, year 2011-2012?
If so, please tell her nothing has changed. She is still loved, more than ever and someone is waiting for her.
the talking of the soul 