*Sayed
3 am at the front door of our building.I was out smoking and thinking about what I had to do because I'm obligated to wake up at 6 am, I tried to get some rest but my brain kept thinking about anything and everything like the house, Egypt, the work, my future, and my past.
I took the decision I'll try to be awake till my work and sleep early tomorrow so I can adjust my biological clock, a plan which has never success but yet seems to be a good one. I opened the door to enter my room but Jamel was in the corridor.
*Jamel
I can't sleep at night because that's the only time when I feel that I own the apartment and I can move and cook without any interruption. It reminds me of my house in Abu Dhabi.
My wife sleeps early but I can catch a short call with her because of the timing zones. I don't like talking to my kids when they ask me when they will come or when I will be back but both questions are hard. For 3 years I'm struggling to get a permit to stay but yet I'm a Palestinian.
I'll cook something then maybe I will read something about the pharaohs .by mentioning the old Egyptians here we go, the creepy Egyptian guy was out now. I think he lied to them and he got the permit for nothing, lucky him.
*Sayed
I scroll down Facebook till I found a post about a happy moment in the series I'm currently following, so I opened my laptop to watch it. I went out to prepare something to eat when I saw Juan
*Juan
I can't sleep well because I have to go to the toilet several times during the night because of beers. I love beers and I can't imagine a day without them, my wife didn't hold that and she trigger my kids to press me to quit drinking.
I quit for 4 years but when I fleet here, it was my best friend to whom I can talk and tell. The doctor says that my liver is going worse because of beers and my lungs are damaged from smoking. but I'm 65 and those are the only two things I am enjoying now.
I think the time is perfect for checking the fridges now and seeing if I can eat anything because I'm broke to buy. I was a step from opening Ibrahim's fridge when Azmy opens his door.
*Azmy
It is hot today and the wheelchair makes it worse besides I am hearing loud music from Sayed's room. It's perfect to go out now when everyone is sleeping and I can move around without the burden of people's looks, the pity in their eyes, and the endless questions about how I got here.
I'm not sure if I will stay here or will be deported to Italy. I didn't see Italy before but that's the law here. It's hard to start all over again, it's harder with that chair. I'm trying to focus on the current moment because I had enough over my shoulders.
-Hi Juan
-Hi azmy
-How are you?
-Fine, and you?
-Good. I was going to roll a cigarette and make some tea, maybe you wanna join
-Okay.
*Ibrahim
The room is crowded and the open door tip doesn't make any change, I wasn't right to invite my cousin to live with us but the kid is now a teenager and I can't stand for raising him on my own, my cousin would help but yet the room is not enough for three of us.
The kid still grinding his teeth when he is sleeping, I've to wake him up and hug him so he stops. It's around 4 and I have to pray fajr and come back to sleep.
I looked at my phone to find a picture of my daughter with a Dutch language book, she listened to me because I need to rely on her here when she comes soon. Back to School in your fifties isn't easy at all.
I hear some noise from the kitchen, I went there to find Juan and Azmy drinking beer together. It's early for fajr so maybe I'll sit and drink a cup of tea. Suddenly, I found Jamel coming with a lot of dishes to wash, once he sees me, he come and sit to drink tea at the moment when Sayed was out to smoke.
*Sayed
Apparently, it is a long night for all of us to see all my flatmates at 4 am drinking and laughing together, how lucky are they, they don't have to be dressed up in 2 hours.
