Rana Safi

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
― Elbert Hubbard

“Every lemon will bring forth a child, and the lemons will never die out.”
― Zoulfa Katouh, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

“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

“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