Grand Finale and Giveaway: The Heart of Aleppo by Ammar Habib

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Why Ammar wrote The Heart of Aleppo

In an over-politicized world, my wish is for this work to humanize those we call “refugees”. The Heart of Aleppo is not about the politics of the Syrian Civil War or any other conflict. Its aim is not to convince readers to support any faction or political party. Instead, this story is about the unbreakable spirit of humanity. It is about how humanity often shows its true strength during the darkest times. . .

Paulette's Papers - Excerpt

Two days before Nabeel leaves for the last time, I find him standing at the kitchen counter with his friend, Zakariah. I don’t know his rank, but Zakariah serves directly under Nabeel in the army and only lives two miles down the road. The two of them always seem to be on leave at the same time.

Their voices are low, almost secretive, but I catch the look in Nabeel’s eye. Except back then, I didn’t recognize it.

“What are you guys talking about?”

Rockin' Book Reviews - Review

"This "stand alone" novel is a bittersweet tale of family, friendship, war, and sacrifices. It is a highly recommended reading material for Young Adults and Adults alike. It raises several good discussion points. It is ideal reading for Book Clubs."

Hearts & Scribbles - Excerpt

He looks back at me with a smile, but it fades when he sees my expression.

“What’s wrong, Zaid?”

I glance at the ground before replying, “I don’t think I want to be a doctor anymore.”

“Why not?”

“…I don’t think I can.”

He takes a few steps towards me before crouching down to come to my eye level, urging me to continue. “Ms. Farooq said I’m not smart enough.”

Paper, Ink, & Lizard - Review

"The Heart of Aleppo starts with an explosion of action that drags you into the story immediately. That momentum slows at points, but picks up near the end, making it easy to breeze through in one sitting."

Andi's Young Adult Books - Excerpt

He takes a deep breath and glances down at my feet. His eyes look like he’s weighing something, wondering if he should say it or not. When he does speak, his voice is different. It’s no longer speaking to me as his younger brother but as his friend. “You know, Zaid, Zakariah was joking about what we were talking about.”

“Really?”

He nods before his gaze focuses back on me. “Not even a few weeks ago, my soldiers and I were in a bit of a… well, situation.”

Library Lady's Kid Lit - Review

"As with most war stories, the story told in The Heart of Aleppo is heartbreaking. Ammar Habib does a great job with the voice of a 13-year-old enduring the destruction of Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War. One of the things that impressed me was Habib’s ability to tell the story without including the politics of the war. It is truly a story of the spirit of humanity in difficult circumstances."

Wishful Endings - Excerpt

The foul stench is everywhere. It floods the buildings and road. It’s in every crevice. It’s soaked into the very brick and mortar of these streets I used to know.

We walk in a single file: Salman up front and me in the back. The sack quickly grows heavy on my shoulder, soon seeming as if it’s filled with bricks. But I trudge on. The weight of the sack is nothing compared to what my heart is feeling right now as I see the city I call home—a city that has stood for over 7,000 years—suddenly turned into wreckage.

Christy's Cozy Corners - Excerpt

Not even a day and a half ago, we walked from school to the bus stop. The roads were crowded with cars, trucks, and buses blaring their horns. The sidewalks were packed with pedestrians and merchants. Now, it’s a ghost town. It’s as if there was never any life here.

The city is… hollow.

A wall of smoke and smog surrounds me on all sides, preventing me from truly seeing anything clearly. Is it a blessing or a curse? I don’t see any of the destruction until I’m right on top of it. If Salman was even five more steps ahead of me, he would be lost behind the wall. We’re out on an open street; yet, it feels as if I am trapped in a prison. The dark walls of this prison follow me, not allowing me to escape their grasp.

Heidi Reads... - Excerpt

Every step is harder than the last. My feet become weighted stones. I almost can’t feel the uneven and cracked concrete underneath me. It’s as if I’m moving in a trance. I don’t know where I am or where I’m going. I’m simply walking through the abyss and listening to the only sound: my soft footsteps.

The longer we travel and the heavier my sack becomes, the more a fear grips me. The fear that we don’t know if we’re fleeing danger or walking into a den of hungry wolves. The fear that by the time we do reach home, what happened to Jari may have already happened to everyone.

ACME Teen Books - Kids and YA Too! - Excerpt

Every time I look up above, hoping to catch some sight of the heavens, all I see is smoke. It’s blocking out any light from the stars. There will be no relief tonight.

I notice a silhouette up ahead. It… it appears to be the minaret of a masjid. Hope is suddenly injected into my heart. With every step, the minaret breaks out of the smoke, and I can better perceive the masjid itself. I see its domed roof. It’s standing tall above all the destruction. If it’s still standing, it’ll be safe inside, right? Nobody will come into a masjid and harm us.

My Life, Loves and Passion - Excerpt

Salman hops down to join Fatima. I follow him. My feet hit the ground hard, shooting a shot of pain up my legs. The sack violently smashes against my sore upper knee, and I almost fall over before Salman catches me. That hurt more than I thought it would. As I rise back up, the foul odor immediately hits me.

The fear-striking silence surrounds me once more. It’s my only companion. The hollow sound of silence is worse than gunfire and explosions. Worse than screams. Worse than terror. Because mixed into this silence is abandonment and suffering.

Locks, Hooks and Books - Review

"The Heart of Aleppo is a very powerful read. . . . I am giving The Heart of Aleppo a well deserved five stars. I highly recommend it for all readers. It is definitely not one to be missed."

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post...

The Heart of Aleppo:

A Story of the Syrian Civil War
By Ammar Habib
YA Contemporary

Paperback & ebook, 252 Pages
July 26th 2018

Winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award
#1 Bestseller in "Coming-Of-Age" Fiction
#1 Bestseller in "Asian-American" Literature

From the ashes of the Syrian Civil War comes this story of hope, love, and courage...

After standing for over 7,000 years, Aleppo's ruin came overnight. Separated from his family during the night the rebels attacked the city, thirteen-year-old Zaid Kadir is lost in the middle of a war zone. Alongside his friends, he is forced to survive the dangers of a civil war he does not even fully understand. Zaid witnesses the destruction of the brutal Syrian Civil War as it grows more deadly by the day and rips his city apart. However, as he braves this destruction, as he desperately tries to survive this catastrophe, he discovers something. Zaid realizes that it is in the darkest hours when humanity's spirit of hope burns brightest.

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author

Ammar Habib is a bestselling and award-winning author who was born in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1993. Ammar enjoys crafting stories that are not only entertaining but will also stay with the reader for a long time. Ammar presently resides in his hometown with his family, all of whom are his biggest fans. He draws his inspiration from his family, imagination, and the world around him.

Website│Blog│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed copy of Habib's national award-winning novel, Memories of My Future (US only). Memories of My Future is an historical/inspirational novel that was published in 2016. It received several accolades after its release, including the Independent Press Award in May 2017.

Ends November 13, 2019

ENTER HERE

Book Tour and Giveaway: The Heart of Aleppo by Ammar Habib

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Heart of Aleppo:

A Story of the Syrian Civil War
By Ammar Habib
YA Contemporary

Paperback & ebook, 252 Pages
July 26th 2018

Winner of the 2019 Independent Press Award
#1 Bestseller in "Coming-Of-Age" Fiction
#1 Bestseller in "Asian-American" Literature

From the ashes of the Syrian Civil War comes this story of hope, love, and courage...

After standing for over 7,000 years, Aleppo's ruin came overnight. Separated from his family during the night the rebels attacked the city, thirteen-year-old Zaid Kadir is lost in the middle of a war zone. Alongside his friends, he is forced to survive the dangers of a civil war he does not even fully understand. Zaid witnesses the destruction of the brutal Syrian Civil War as it grows more deadly by the day and rips his city apart. However, as he braves this destruction, as he desperately tries to survive this catastrophe, he discovers something. Zaid realizes that it is in the darkest hours when humanity's spirit of hope burns brightest.

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author

Ammar Habib is a bestselling and award-winning author who was born in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1993. Ammar enjoys crafting stories that are not only entertaining but will also stay with the reader for a long time. Ammar presently resides in his hometown with his family, all of whom are his biggest fans. He draws his inspiration from his family, imagination, and the world around him.

Website│Blog│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed copy of Habib's national award-winning novel, Memories of My Future (US only). Memories of My Future is an historical/inspirational novel that was published in 2016. It received several accolades after its release, including the Independent Press Award in May 2017.

Ends November 13, 2019

ENTER HERE

My Review: 

The Heart of Aleppo is a very powerful read. I have not really heard much about the Syrian Civil War, so this book was shocking to me what the people in the country have been going through. This book really torn at my heart to think of the children having to live that way. Zaid is one brave boy that I loved from the start.

I am giving The Heart of Aleppo a well deserved five stars. I highly recommend it for all readers. It is definitely not one to be missed.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Grand Finale and Giveaway: The Legendary Wolf by Ammar Habib

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Tour Grand Finale for

The Legendary Wolf

By Ammar Habib

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops

you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Note from the Author

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my newest novel, The Legendary Wolf. I’m very excited about this novel, since it’s a work that I’ve been slowly piecing together since the summer of 2013. The Legendary Wolf is an action/thriller with a contemporary western flair. I’ve always been attracted to the idea of an older protagonist, one who has lost their purpose and become disillusioned with the world. This concept was the basic foundation for The Legendary Wolf. Along with the main theme of atonement, The Legendary Wolf also possesses major themes of growing old and renewing one’s purpose. . .

Christy's Cozy Corners - Guest Post

The Character of Grayson Wolf

Grayson Wolf was once the world’s greatest assassin. He left a mountain of corpses in his wake, and just the mention of his name struck fear into the hearts of his foes. Grayson was an unstoppable force, and his feats earned him the title of Mors, a title that was a reference to the Roman embodiment of death. . .

Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters - Interview

2.) What was one of your favorite scenes?

This is a tough question to answer because there are honestly so many! I don’t want to give away too big of a spoiler, but one of my favorite scenes happens toward the end of the second act. This scene is where Grayson shows his change of heart. Throughout the entire novel, he has been more of a passive protagonist, meaning that all the “action” he has gone through has not been because of his own will. In this scene, after going through an experience, Grayson takes matters in his own hands and swears to see out this last mission until the end. It’s a really powerful scene because it is at this point that Grayson chooses to shed his demons and rise back up.

Jessica Belmont - Review

"I wasn’t expecting to absolutely love this novel. It’s brutal, gritty, and action-packed. I was glued to this novel from beginning to end. . . . Ammar Habib’s writing is fantastic. He’s found the sweet-spot between description and action that keeps a reader obsessing from beginning to end. Highly recommended!"

onemused - Review

"I would recommend for people who like Jason Bourne/Mission Impossible style movies. Gritty, suspenseful, and full of action/danger, this is a fast-paced read about a unique character. There are also several twists and turns along the way that I enjoyed until the shocking but satisfying end."

Daughter of Increase - Review

"This was such an excellent action packed novel! I loved it from start to finish. The depths, the emotions, the drama -- it gave me Jason Statham feels. The writing was well done. I always felt pulled into a scene be it emotional or fight scene. . . . Totally recommend this if you're looking for an action packed read!"

I'm All About Books - Excerpt

“The men upstairs made two mistakes. One: they thought they could beat me. Two: they tried to. Don’t make the same mistakes.”

Hearing my words, the three punks glance down at the bodies lyin’ at my feet. My knuckles are bloodied as I tower over the fallen men. These remaining guards are mercenaries, but so were the others. I know why they’re hesitating, and it’s not just because of the beating they saw me deliver. They know who I am. More importantly, they know what I am. And after the firefight upstairs and the mountain of corpses I left behind, they know the stories they’ve heard are true. All of them.

Wishful Endings - Guest Post

Why I Wrote The Legendary Wolf

The Legendary Wolf is a story that I first conceived back in the summer of 2013. Though it’s gone through quite a few changes since then, the story’s core has remained the same. I’ve always been attracted to the idea of having a character who is an older warrior/soldier. The questions formed the foundation of this novel were: What happens to the warrior after they’ve grown old? What happens to the soldier who has no battle left to fight? . . .

Cover To Cover Cafe - Review

"This is a fast paced thrill ride of ups, downs, twists and turns. . . . Part movie feel, part novel feel, Grayson’s story will leave you begging for more. I am so glad that I gave this 4 star novel a chance and I am excited to read more work from this highly talented author!"

Harlie's Books - Excerpt

I have a ritual for nights like these, nights where the drinks and pills aren’t enough to put me to sleep.

It’s been hours since my home lost power. The muggy and still air grows warmer with every passing moment. Accompanying the blackness is dead silence, save for the splattering rain and chaos raging outside.

My head hangs low. Sittin’ on a weathered and bare chair in the darkness, I feel it in my right hand: the cold grip of my aged Colt Dragoon. After all these years, the grip has seemed to mold so that it perfectly fits into my hand. This gun is the only friend I have, the only thing that shares even a sliver of my pain.

Colorimetry - Guest Post

Themes of The Legendary Wolf

The Legendary Wolf is a tale of one man’s redemption. It follows the story of Grayson Wolf, a man who was once the greatest assassin the world ever knew. However, after going AWOL on his government decades ago, he disappeared and has been living under the radar for years. He is an old man when the novel begins, one who has grown bitter toward the world and is filled with regret. Grayson simply exists day-to-day as he waits for the Grim Reaper to come and take his soul. But that all changes when he suddenly finds himself thrust into a situation where he is forced to protect a young girl from the dark forces pursuing her.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post, if you haven't already...

The Legendary Wolf

By Ammar Habib

Adult Thriller

ebook, 226 Pages
July 12th 2019

From Bestselling & Award-Winning author Ammar Habib comes this brutal tale of redemption!

Men Die. Legends Don't.

Decades ago, Grayson Wolf locked away the demons inside him. Once a legendary assassin named after Mors, the Roman embodiment of death, Grayson is now a shadow of the man he was before. He suffers every waking hour, haunted by his past as he begs for death to end his torment.

However, Grayson is pulled back into the shadowy world of espionage when an old comrade shows up at his front door with a young girl he is trying to rescue from sinister men. Suddenly hunted by an army of deadly mercenaries, Grayson is left with no choice but to protect the girl. But deep inside, something happens. He finds a light in the darkness, a light he thought was dead. The demons Grayson chained up--the legendary Mors--will be unleashed. And anyone standing in his way will have hell to pay.

Goodreads│Amazon

About the Author

Ammar Habib is a bestselling and award-winning author who was born in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1993. Ammar enjoys crafting stories that are not only entertaining but will also stay with the reader for a long time. Ammar presently resides in his hometown with his family, all of whom are his biggest fans. He draws his inspiration from his family, imagination, and the world around him.

Website│Blog│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed copy of Habib's national award-winning novel, Memories of My Future (US only). Memories of My Future is an historical/inspirational novel that was published in 2016. It received several accolades after its release, including the Independent Press Award in May 2017.

Ends September 4, 2019

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Book Blitz and Giveaway: The Legendary Wolf by Ammar Habib

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the Book Blitz for

The Legendary Wolf

By Ammar Habib

The Legendary Wolf

By Ammar Habib

Adult Thriller

ebook, 226 Pages
July 12th 2019

From Bestselling & Award-Winning author Ammar Habib comes this brutal tale of redemption!

Men Die. Legends Don't.

Decades ago, Grayson Wolf locked away the demons inside him. Once a legendary assassin named after Mors, the Roman embodiment of death, Grayson is now a shadow of the man he was before. He suffers every waking hour, haunted by his past as he begs for death to end his torment.

However, Grayson is pulled back into the shadowy world of espionage when an old comrade shows up at his front door with a young girl he is trying to rescue from sinister men. Suddenly hunted by an army of deadly mercenaries, Grayson is left with no choice but to protect the girl. But deep inside, something happens. He finds a light in the darkness, a light he thought was dead. The demons Grayson chained up--the legendary Mors--will be unleashed. And anyone standing in his way will have hell to pay.

Goodreads│Amazon

Excerpt

It’s the middle of the night when my eyes shoot open and I jolt up. Sitting up on my bed, my naked torso is surrounded by cold air. Sweat runs down my face and chest. Some of it soaks into my unkempt beard. Chest heaving, my breaths are quick. And my body quivers.

My vision is still in a blur between reality and my dream. The image of all the demons possesses my mind for a few moments before they finally disperse. Relaxing my balled fist, I take a deep breath. Then another.

I’m not alone, and it isn’t some devil that’s here to give me company.

Turning toward the open doorway, I see Anna standing there. The girl is wearin’ a long-sleeved nightgown, one that she found in a closet, and her red hair hangs freely. The gown is a darker tint of red than her hair. Anna looks at me intently. She must’ve heard me screaming again…but she’s not frightened. Not like before.

There’s a silence between us, the same silence that has hung over us since this entire ordeal began. Looking down at the two empty bottles on my bed, I carelessly toss them onto the wooden floor. Anna’s voice makes me again meet her gaze. Her voice ain’t afraid, and her expression shows no hint of fear.

“I heard you again. It was just like the other nights. You can’t sleep. You keep calling out in the night. Calling out for death.”

I don’t reply.

Anna takes a step into the room, her eyes still locked with mine. Her next words are soft. They’re…caring. Gentle. I can hear the compassion she has, compassion for me. “Who’s Ophelia?”

The terror in my eyes and heart starts to wash away when she utters Ophelia’s name. They grow somber, almost human. My gaze turns downcast, but I hear her continue to take slow steps toward me. Shutting my eyes, I try to keep the memories from flooding back, try to fight back the tears.

Anna is standin’ in front of me when I look back up. Her innocent eyes don’t hold any apprehension. She’s not afraid. She’s not mocking me. She’s not like everyone else. She…she cares for me. She wants to help me. I take a deep breath. It feels like the first breath I’ve taken in decades.

“She was…” I can’t finish the sentence. Not before my words begin to crack up. “Ophelia was my wife. I…”

There’s no holding it back now. My quivering eyes finally burst, letting loose the dam of tears that have been hiding behind them for so long. They streak down my rough cheeks, breaking any dam that held back the decades of emotions.

“I…I killed her…along with everything else I once was.”

About the Author

Ammar Habib is a bestselling and award-winning author who was born in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1993. Ammar enjoys crafting stories that are not only entertaining but will also stay with the reader for a long time. Ammar presently resides in his hometown with his family, all of whom are his biggest fans. He draws his inspiration from his family, imagination, and the world around him.

Website│Blog│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram

Blitz Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed copy of Habib's national award-winning novel, Memories of My Future (US only). Memories of My Future is an historical/inspirational novel that was published in 2016. It received several accolades after its release, including the Independent Press Award in May 2017.

Ends July 16, 2019

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Book Blitz and Giveaway: The Heart of Aleppo by Ammar Habib

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the Book Blitz for

The Heart of Aleppo

By Ammar Habib

Learn more about this new Young Adult release, read an excerpt, and enter the giveaway below...

Why Ammar Wrote The Heart of Aleppo:

Writing Playlist for The Heart of Aleppo

1. “Sadness and Sorrow”

2. “Sound of Hugh Glass”

3. “Despair”

4. “Man of the World”

I personally believe that the Syrian Civil War is one of this generation’s greatest tragedies. With the way it is proceeding, it’ll be remembered by future generations in the same manner that we remember the Rwandan genocide and the Bosnian War of the 1990s.

The motivation for writing The Heart of Aleppo was simple: I wished to bring more global attention to this crisis. Although the characters are fictitious, this novel accurately depicts the events that transpired in Aleppo during the summer of 2012. I hope that reading this will lead readers to have a greater understanding of the plight those in Syria face, as well as those in other war-torn regions. If this work helps garner more attention for those in Syria, then I will have considered this project a success.

In an over-politicized world, my wish is for this work to humanize those we call “refugees”. The Heart of Aleppo is not about the politics of the Syrian Civil War or any other conflict. Its aim is not to convince readers to support any faction or political party. Instead, this story is about the unbreakable spirit of humanity.  It is about how humanity often shows its true strength during the darkest times.

I truly hope that these themes of hope and strength will resonate with readers. I know that simply writing this The Heart of Aleppo changed me as a person, and it made me more aware of everything that transpires in the world around me. Although the world will never be perfect, I believe that if we keep our faith in the human spirit and keep striving to always better ourselves and those around us, then we can create a little piece of heaven on earth.

―Ammar

The Heart of Aleppo:

A Story of the Syrian Civil War
By Ammar Habib
YA Contemporary

ebook, 235 Pages
July 26th 2018

After standing for over 7,000 years, Aleppo's ruin came overnight. Separated from his family during the night the rebels attacked the city, thirteen-year-old Zaid Kadir is lost in the middle of a war zone. Alongside his friends, he is forced to survive the dangers of a civil war he does not even fully understand. Zaid witnesses the destruction of the brutal Syrian Civil War as it grows more deadly by the day and rips his city apart. However, as he braves this destruction, as he desperately tries to survive this catastrophe, he discovers something. Zaid realizes that it is in the darkest hours when humanity's spirit of hope burns brightest.

Goodreads│Amazon

Excerpt

Two days before Nabeel leaves for the last time, I find him standing at the kitchen counter with his friend, Zakariah. I don’t know his rank, but Zakariah serves directly under Nabeel in the army and only lives two miles down the road. The two of them always seem to be on leave at the same time. 

Their voices are low, almost secretive, but I catch the look in Nabeel’s eye. Except back then, I didn’t recognize it.

“What are you guys talking about?”

Seeing me enter and hearing my voice, they both look my way before exchanging glances. That gleam in Nabeel’s eyes disappears.

I excitedly run up to the two of them. “Tell me!”

Nabeel looks back down at me as he stops leaning against the counter. Reaching down, he ruffles my hair. “You’re too young to know about that, Zaid.”

“Aww, what’s that about? I’m not part of the group now—”

My brother playfully flicks me on the forehead as he crouches down a little. “I’m sorry, buddy. Maybe next time.”

“You’re always saying that.”

Zakariah laughs as he comes closer to me. He puts his hand on my shoulder. “That’s just not fair, Nabeel. You’re a horrible brother for leaving Zaid out like that.”

I see a concerned expression momentarily wash over Nabeel’s face.

However, Zakariah glances up at Nabeel and shoots him a quick wink as he continues. “Why don’t I just tell you then?”

My eyes light up. “Really! You’re the best, Zakariah.”

Coming to his knees, he puts his arm around my shoulders and leans close, acting as if he is about to tell me the world’s biggest secret. “You see, Zaid, your brother and I were having a discussion about which one of us would win in a wrestling match. We all know that I’m stronger, but he just won’t admit it.” He sighs and shakes his head as he looks back at Nabeel. “But you agree with me, don’t you, Zaid?”

I don’t hesitate to respond. “No way!”

He moves his head back in surprise. “Huh?”

“Sure you’re pretty strong, but my brother would beat you!”

Zakariah is slow to reply, taken aback by the statement. “C’mon, Zaid. You do realize that I’m older than him—”

“Age has nothing to do with it, Zakariah! My brother was the school’s wrestling champion. He wouldn’t lose to you.” I whip my head to look back at Nabeel. “Right, big brother?”

Nabeel is slightly smiling now.

With a chuckle, Zakariah rises back to his feet. “Alright, alright. Well, I best be off, Nabeel. We can finish our little discussion next time.”

Nabeel shakes his hand. “Give my greetings to your folks.”

“I will.” Zakariah grabs my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “See you, Zaid—no, sorry: Dr. Zaid.”

Did he really just call me that? How did he know?

Hearing Zakariah’s footsteps grow faint, I turn back to Nabeel. He opens the fridge door and rummages through it.

“You told him?” I ask.

Nabeel doesn’t look my way. “I tell everyone.”

I watch him pull out a pound of chicken meat rolled up in brown paper as he turns back to me.

“Aisha is visiting her parents tonight and Abbi and Ummi are having dinner with friends. So looks like it’ll just be you and me.” Nabeel shoots me a wink. “I’m going to make some shwarma for dinner. Just the way you like it: tomatoes, lettuce, onions, lots of chicken, and even more spices.” He starts setting the ingredients on the countertop. “I went by Sohail’s shop today. The mangoes he was selling were ripe, so I picked some up. We can have them for dessert. That is if we have room.”

He looks back at me with a smile, but it fades when he sees my expression.

“What’s wrong, Zaid?”

I glance at the ground before replying, “I don’t think I want to be a doctor anymore.”

“Why not?”

“…I don’t think I can.”

He takes a few steps towards me before crouching down to come to my eye level, urging me to continue.

“Ms. Farooq said I’m not smart enough.”

“She did?”

“I got the lowest score in the class on the last math test. She said I’m not cut out for it.”

“I didn’t realize Ms. Farooq could tell the future.”

I don’t respond.

“Did you tell Abbi or Ummi?”

I shake my head.

He takes a deep breath and glances down at my feet. His eyes look like he’s weighing something, wondering if he should say it or not. When he does speak, his voice is different. It’s no longer speaking to me as his younger brother but as his friend. “You know, Zaid, Zakariah was joking about what we were talking about.”

“Really?”

He nods before his gaze focuses back on me. “Not even a few weeks ago, my soldiers and I were in a bit of a… well, situation.”

“What happened?”

“We were in Homs. The people we were fighting—the rebels—had heavy control of some neighborhoods. We were trying to take them back. It was…”

A silence ensues as he searches for the word.

“Difficult.” Nabeel pauses. “Some soldiers were pinned. The army tried an airstrike to break the rebel lines. It was a heavy bombardment that leveled entire streets. The cost was high. But we couldn’t break their lines.”

I don’t interrupt him.

“Our intelligence said it was a lost cause. We were ordered to abandon the soldiers. They said we would lose more men than we would save. But even the army’s ‘intelligence’ doesn’t know everything.” He looks away. “Zakariah and I disobeyed our commanding officer. As did our men. Those soldiers that were pinned weren’t just men. They were my friends… my brothers. And I would never abandon them, even if it led to…”

For a moment, his eyes again display that same gleam, but it disappears as quickly as it came.

His gaze again meets mine. It’s firmer this time, stronger. “It doesn’t matter what people say, Zaid. It doesn’t matter what the facts say. All that matters is what you say. And, maybe more importantly, what you do.”

I hang on his words, unable to say anything.

“Why do you want to be a doctor, Zaid?”

“I’ve always wanted to.”

“But why?”

“Because… I don’t want to see people suffer. I… I want to be the one to help others. I want to save lives, make a difference and put others before myself. I want to make this world a better place. Just like the Imam always talks about.”

Nabeel smiles. “Never forget that. And never go back on your word. No matter what happens. Please never forget one thing, Zaid: I love you. No matter the circumstance—no matter if I’m so far from you that you may never see me again, know that I’m with you.” He presses his finger against my heart. “I believe in you, Zaid.”

About the Author

Ammar Habib is a bestselling and award-winning author who was born in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1993. Ammar enjoys crafting stories that are not only entertaining but will also stay with the reader for a long time. Ammar presently resides in his hometown with his family, all of whom are his biggest fans. He draws his inspiration from his family, imagination, and the world around him.

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Blitz Giveaway

In conjunction with the release of The Heart of Aleppo, the author is running a giveaway from July 26th to August 3rd. The prize is a signed copy of his national award-winning novel, Memories of My Future. Memories of My Future is an historical/inspirational novel that was published in 2016. It received several accolades after its release, including the Independent Press Award in May 2017.

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