Benghazi

Benghazi in Libya is Khaled’s hometown. It is where Khaled’s youth unfolds, marked by his frustration with his father’s cautious silence under the regime, and his admiration for figures like Hosam and Ramadan whom he hears on the radio. Though Khaled misses Benghazi during his years in London, when the chance arises to return, he hesitates and ultimately chooses not to go. The city itself suffers devastating destruction during the revolution, with Khaled’s childhood home severely bombed, symbolizing the shattering of his past and the irreversible changes in both place and self.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh represents a brief period of relative stability and new beginnings for Khaled, where he pursues his studies and forms important relationships with Rana, Mustafa, and Henry. It symbolizes a potential for growth and connection outside Libya. However, the shooting incident in London irrevocably changes his trajectory, severing his ability to...