N: Not Without My Daughter (2022 A-Z)

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“It’ll be okay, I’m here,” he says, standing at the Turkey-Iran border, looking over at Iran.

With every step I take towards the huge metal gates, I am mentally transported to the Iran of the book. In the 100-odd feet it takes to get to the entrance, my chest feels like it will explode. I still put one foot in front of the other, wanting to get over my fear. It is useless, I realize. I finally turn back.

Not Without My Daughter left an indelible impact on my 16-year-old self, one that still gives me goosebumps after 15 years.

In 1977, Dr. Sayyed Moody, of Iranian descent, takes his wife Betty and 4-year-old daughter Mahtob, from the United States back to his home country Iran. The trip is supposed to be a two-week vacation so Mahtob can meet his side of the family. Little does Betty know that Dr. Moody now intends to never return. Not Without My Daughter details Betty’s struggles as she attempts to escape from their captivity under lock and key, without their passports, under the watchful eyes of an abusive husband and his orthodox family. Her traumatic journey ends when after numerous attempts to escape, explain, improve their situation, she finally gets herself and her daughter successfully smuggled across the borderlines, 18 months after having arrived in Iran.

I have written this 100-word flash fiction for the 2022 Edition of the Blogging A-Z Challenge, a blogging event held every April. Click here to read more on the challenge! My chosen theme for this year is flash fiction driven book recommendations. Even if you aren’t a book reader, you might enjoy the flash fiction. And if you’re participating as well, do leave your blog site in the comments!