October 7 On October 7, every page written by the people of Gaza seems to groan, because it longs for a life we once thought was ordinary, before we discovered that it was a priceless blessing, and that the things we once passed by without a second thought were treasures to those who have been deprived of them. Memories chase us until they nearly destroy us; images of faces that are gone, voices that have fallen silent, homes that are no longer homes, streets, features, and places whose warmth still lingers in our memories, as though the comfort and safety they once held are still there despite everything that has happened. Only later did we discover the blessing of boring routines, and the blessing of ordinary days we once complained about. We discovered the blessing of leaning against a wall rather than a piece of fabric, of sleeping in a bed, of having a private bathroom, of closing a door behind you and feeling safe, and of knowing that you have a permanent address to return to at the end of the day. We discovered the blessing of a full refrigerator, the quiet of winter behind windows, the sound of rain without fear, and hundreds of small blessings we never noticed because they were simply part of our lives. As for me, I went through this genocide alone. Day after day, I was crushed beneath its weight. I swallowed my fear and exhaustion and tried to keep standing, simply so that my children could have enough safety to live, and so they would not feel that the world had completely abandoned them. Three years have passed, and we are still trying to understand how the life we once knew became a memory, and how the simplest thing we now long for is simply to live an ordinary life. O God, accept our patience, accept all that we have lost, have mercy on those who have departed, protect those who remain, and one day return to us at least some of what was taken from us. O God, let there be life after this patience, compensation after this loss, and dawn after this long night. https://gofund.me/83e09b493 https://gaza-verified.org/people/@nada@manganiello.eu/ #Fediforgaza #Gaza #Palestine #StandWithGaza #MutualAid #Humanity #SupportPalestine #SaveLives #EmergencyRelief