Escape at the midnight(Sayed Aman Anwari) 24 years ago I was a kid
a kid who only knew how to walk, eat and drink.

It was too early, to know about September 11th!
The only knowledge I had kept with myself, was the father advice; not to argue with strangers,
Having my mother advice; not to eat lots of candies.

Father listened to radio, because we did not have a tv
Still the radio seemed a magic to me
Where I thought magicians are inside
wondering how they could live there
Inside a radio
Where I can not see them
but hearing their voice
more clearly and politely
Then the Shepherd voice.

Years passed, I went to school
Its beautiful campus made up by USAID.
Where I saw happy girls!

24 years ago in Afghanistan; schools were not closed for girls
Books were shelved
And music was not muted.

As we were running into the school campus
a group of American troops passing the street.
We never knew, why they are here !
And what they are doing in our village
We have been hearing the word "Taliban"
But not seeing them in photo!

I was lucky enough to grow up with republic values
Where we could dance
Where we could sing
Where we could hug.

I was lucky enough to see that coloured Afghan republic flag together with American flag.
That time, that moment I had no idea of what price American troops and American tax payers paid
for our short nap democracy!

Once in a time. I lived in a semi western Afghanistan;
Where women singers sung without scarf
Where we kids learned a few English words from American troops
Where President Obama visited Kabul and Mohammad Ali met our sportsmen!
Where we could become next Japan or next south Korea....
But suddenly:
We were made aware of our short nap by President Biden!

The America withdrawal was the withdrawal of freedom of speech
Withdrawal of Girls Education
Withdrawal of Music
Withdrawal of books
And just right there, we woke up and saw the Afghan coloured flag flattened in the street; valueless
the same like Autumn leaves leaving the trees.

We woke up and we heard that
American troops left Afghanistan
at the middle of night
and someone say they escaped at the middle of night...

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