“I stare at him for a few more minutes, my heart expanding with love for him.We'll be OK,' I whisper, letting the night capture my wish. We're owed that at least. A life of not scanning rooftops, of not being relieved the ceiling didn't cave in on us during the night.He and I are owed a love story that doesn't end in tragedy.”
―
Zoulfa Katouh,
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Every lemon will bring forth a child, and the lemons will never die out.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Do you see the colours, Salama?' Kenan whispers.The sunset is gorgeous, but it pales in comparison to him. He's drenched in the dying day's glow, a kaleidoscope of shades dancing on his face. Pink, orange, yellow, purple, red. Finally settling into an azure blue. It reminds me of Layla's painting. A colour so stark it would stain my fingers were I to touch it.As the sun sinks, in those few precious moments when the world is caught between day and night, something shifts between Kenan and me. 'Yes,' I breathe. 'Yes.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“We don't have to stop living because we might die.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Might. What a word. It holds infinite possibilities of a life that could have been. So many options stacked one on top of the other, like cards waiting for a player to pick and choose.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“With all the destruction happening down there, it's so easy to forget the beauty that's up here. The sky is so beautiful after rainfall.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“It reminds me that as long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“He’s…honest. With everything. His thoughts, his expressions. He’s kind. It’s a rare kindness, Layla. I’m sure he still dreams. Maybe he’s the only one who still dreams. Maybe he’s the only one in the whole city who still dreams at night. And when he looks at me, I feel…I feel like I’m being seen, and there is…there is a tiny bit of hope.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Bury me before I bury you" I did.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Salama, you've done everything. The rest is up to God. To fate. If you're meant to be in Munich, you will be, even if the whole military rips this place apart. And if you're not, then not even a private plane landing in the middle of Freedom Square to whisk you away will do that.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Death is an excellent teacher.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Survivor's skin is a remorse we are cursed to wear forever.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“I want my mama. I want her to soothe away my sadness and kiss me while calling me ya omri and te’eburenee. My life and bury me.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Just on the other side, safety- not freedom. I'm leaving freedom behind, and I can feel the earth's grief when I get out of the car. The tired weeds try to encircle my ankles. begging me to stay. They murmur stories about my ancestors. The ones who stood right where I stand. The ones whose discoveries and civilization encompassed the whole world. The one whose blood runs through my veins. My footprints sink deep into the soil where theirs have long since been washed away. They plead with me: It's your country. This earth belongs to me and my children.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“You asked me if you could see colours again, Salama. If we deserve to see them. I think we do. I think you can. There's too little of it in death. In pain. But that's not the only thing in the world. That's not all that Syria has. Syria was once the center of the world. Inventions and discoveries were made here; they built the world. Our history is in the Al-Zahrawi Palace, in our mosques, in our earth” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“He and I are owed a love story that doesn't end in tragedy.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“As an artist, I'm a student of life. Humor me, Salama.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“We are stripped from our choices, so we latch onto what will ensure our survival.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Don’t focus on the darkness and sadness,” ... “If you do, you won’t see the light even if it’s staring you in the face.” ― Zoulfa Katouh
“Every lemon will bring forth a child, and the lemons will never die out.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Do you see the colours, Salama?' Kenan whispers.The sunset is gorgeous, but it pales in comparison to him. He's drenched in the dying day's glow, a kaleidoscope of shades dancing on his face. Pink, orange, yellow, purple, red. Finally settling into an azure blue. It reminds me of Layla's painting. A colour so stark it would stain my fingers were I to touch it.As the sun sinks, in those few precious moments when the world is caught between day and night, something shifts between Kenan and me. 'Yes,' I breathe. 'Yes.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“We don't have to stop living because we might die.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Might. What a word. It holds infinite possibilities of a life that could have been. So many options stacked one on top of the other, like cards waiting for a player to pick and choose.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“With all the destruction happening down there, it's so easy to forget the beauty that's up here. The sky is so beautiful after rainfall.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“It reminds me that as long as the lemon trees grow, hope will never die.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“He’s…honest. With everything. His thoughts, his expressions. He’s kind. It’s a rare kindness, Layla. I’m sure he still dreams. Maybe he’s the only one who still dreams. Maybe he’s the only one in the whole city who still dreams at night. And when he looks at me, I feel…I feel like I’m being seen, and there is…there is a tiny bit of hope.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Bury me before I bury you" I did.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Salama, you've done everything. The rest is up to God. To fate. If you're meant to be in Munich, you will be, even if the whole military rips this place apart. And if you're not, then not even a private plane landing in the middle of Freedom Square to whisk you away will do that.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Death is an excellent teacher.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Survivor's skin is a remorse we are cursed to wear forever.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“I want my mama. I want her to soothe away my sadness and kiss me while calling me ya omri and te’eburenee. My life and bury me.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Just on the other side, safety- not freedom. I'm leaving freedom behind, and I can feel the earth's grief when I get out of the car. The tired weeds try to encircle my ankles. begging me to stay. They murmur stories about my ancestors. The ones who stood right where I stand. The ones whose discoveries and civilization encompassed the whole world. The one whose blood runs through my veins. My footprints sink deep into the soil where theirs have long since been washed away. They plead with me: It's your country. This earth belongs to me and my children.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“You asked me if you could see colours again, Salama. If we deserve to see them. I think we do. I think you can. There's too little of it in death. In pain. But that's not the only thing in the world. That's not all that Syria has. Syria was once the center of the world. Inventions and discoveries were made here; they built the world. Our history is in the Al-Zahrawi Palace, in our mosques, in our earth” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“He and I are owed a love story that doesn't end in tragedy.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“As an artist, I'm a student of life. Humor me, Salama.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“We are stripped from our choices, so we latch onto what will ensure our survival.” ― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow
“Don’t focus on the darkness and sadness,” ... “If you do, you won’t see the light even if it’s staring you in the face.” ― Zoulfa Katouh
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