Artwork: Painting by Seth, The reader, Qalandiya, 2022, Occupied Palestinian territories
In the Classroom
The teacher lifts the chalk—
it snaps
A child flinches,
breath held,
waiting.
Outside, the sky groans.
The windows do not shatter—
not yet.
A boy at the back
engraving words
on his wooden desk.
His name.
His brother’s name.
A name he won’t say out loud.
The fan creaks, slow and tired.
A flicker of light.
A dry mouth.
Only the hush of moving lips—
Then—
a distant boom.
The room stops breathing.
The teacher drops the chalk,
her hands trembling.
The boy runs his hand over the carving,
dust settling in the grooves.
And weeps, soundless.
Somewhere beyond these walls,
silence breaks again.
No one came to help.
By Mohammed Arafat, February 26th, 2025