Farid came back from the village shortly after. He had a sack of food. He smiled at Ghost, digging through the bag and handing the tall soldier something orange and leathery; dried apricots. Ghost popped one into his mouth, tasting it's sweetness.
Amina made some kind of vegetable stew for dinner,  which she served to them herself. Ghost found it surprisingly tasty. The siblings went to bed when it got late, and Ghost too fell asleep. He had woken up when it was still dark out, needing a drink of water. He was ready to go back to sleep when he heard it; Amina crying, and Farid talking. He didn't think; he ran into the room. Amina heard him, and pulled a scarf over her face again.
"What's wrong?" Ghost asked, concerned. Farid started talking rapidly, looking like he might cry.
"It's nothing....go away..."
"Amina, you were screaming...." Amina took a shaky breath.
"Farid, go in the next room." Farid nodded and left obediently.

Ghost sighed; he'd had his share of nightmares; the things he didn't want to remember.
"It was when our parents died....they....they..."
"They were killed, weren't they?" Ghost whispered.
Amina wiped tears off of her face.
"Yes. Some Taliban had come to our village....they wanted the boys...."
Ghost nodded; he knew what happened to boys; brainwashed into being child soldiers.
"One woman was a teacher....they shot her in the street..."
"And then?" Ghost asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.
"They came to our house....we hid Farid in a trap door under the storeroom. Then they said they wanted me....I was sixteen....my father tried to fight back; they shot him. They took turns...." Amina couldn't finish. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Ghost reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Is there anything I can do?"
Amina shook her head and pulled her legs to her chest.
"No....you can't help us now.....the Taliban have taken everything...."
Ghost sat beside her.
"They made sure I'd never forget." Amina said, uncovering her face. A scar ran from her eye to her chin. His stomach turned when he saw a scar on her neck, near her jugular vein.
"They hit me over the head with a gun....I blacked out...when I woke up, both of my parents were dead. I got Farid out of the storeroom; he wouldn't stop crying...we knew we were alone. After that, Farid got a neighbor to help us for awhile; we called her Auntie Maryam. She looked after me until I was strong enough. But I wasn't...All I did was get up, make Farid some food, and go back to bed...l didn't want to  talk to anyone....I was afraid..."
Her eyes filled with tears again.
"One day, Farid went to play with his friends.... I took the butane container from the stove.... I couldn't bring myself to light the match.... I knew I couldn't leave Farid...."
"Amina...don't do this...don't blame yourself...You survived!"
Her eyes were closed and she buried her face back into her knees, sobbing.
Ghost rested his hand on her arm, listening to her cry. This was so unfair... He wished he knew what to say.
"Amina..."
She lifted her head, looking straight ahead blankly.
"If the Taliban come, they will kill us...and probably you too..." He paused to take a breath, hoping that she would understand. He continued, "Do you have any weapons? Do you have a rifle or a handgun? I mean...I don't want you to be unprotected....you can escape with me....rape is grounds for asylum in some countries; there's refugee aid...you'll be safe."
"You mean....we can leave?" Amina had been wanting to flee; to find freedom. And to live free, away from this place, where death seemed to follow her like a shadow. The thought of escaping terrified her at the same time.

"If we can, we will." Amina said. Ghost could sense the determination in her voice; the same determination he felt.
She pulled away from him slightly, pulling her leg to her chest again.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up...."
"Don't worry about it."
Amina looked at Ghost; she knew the scars and dirt could not hide what haunted him. Her eyes searched the ground. She wiped her eyes with her hand.
"I'm fine. Thank you, Simon."
Ghost stood and left the bedroom, seeing Farid sitting by the door.
"Go be with your sister, little man." Ghost said, not knowing if the kid knew what he was saying.
The boy looked startled before nodding his head and running to Amina's bedside.

Ghost laid down on his mattress, replaying Amina's story in his mind. He had heard about the atrocities that women and girls here had to live through, the struggle to survive day to day. Amina was lucky just to be alive. He would not let anything happen to her. She had saved his life; he could at least do the same

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