Summary

The narrator looks at his sleeping son, who is illuminated by the moonlight. The narrator notes the sense of peace and innocence emanated by his sleeping son. The illustration shows refugees—both women and children—waiting on the beach. Some of them are asleep. The narrator recalls when, earlier that night, he told Marwan to hold his hand. He has told Marwan that nothing bad will happen to them. However, the narrator knows that there is no guarantee of their safety. The narrator simply wants to comfort his son and keep him calm. The narrator is deeply moved and humbled by his son’s faith in him. The narrator thinks with fear about the journey ahead. They will travel across the Mediterranean Sea, and if something goes wrong, they could all drown. The narrator feels powerless to protect his son. The accompanying illustration...