After she left, Jason and I looked at each other.
"Well," he said, "I guess this is home now."
I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat. "I wonder if we'll ever see our real homes again."
Jason put a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, don't give up hope. We're in this together, right? We'll figure something out."
I managed a small smile. "Right. Together."
That night, I lay in my narrow bed, listening to the strange sounds of the island - birds I'd never heard before, the rustling of palm trees, distant waves. I thought of my family and wondered if they were looking for me. I thought of Mariam and the other kids, scattered across the island in different houses.
I didn't know what the future held, but I made a silent promise to myself. Somehow, someway, I would find a way for us all to be free
