A Land of Permanent Goodbyes

Meanwhile, Alexia spies the man who she had previously seen taking photos of refugees arriving on the beach. She watches as he goes to have a beer with a man who matches the description of the taxi driver. The men are on shore drinking beers nearby their boat, the Euphoria. Alexia takes the opportunity to sneak onto the boat and look for Susan. She messages Tareq the name of the boat before remembering that his Turkish SIM card is no longer working.

Searching the boat, Alexia finds a locked room with people inside—they beg her to let them out. However, a man comes and attacks her. He implies that he will add her to his trafficking victims—“An American huh?... Good money for you”—and that he will rape her (250). Tareq and Dean arrive just in time to help; Dean had turned on a hotspot on his phone so that Tareq’s phone would have WiFi access, so he was able to get the message Alexia sent. While they handle the man, Alexia gets the door open—some young boys are inside, along with Susan. Alexia brings Susan to Tareq. Dean goes to deal with Siddiqa and the police. 

Several days later, Tareq and Susan head to the port; they will take the ferry from Mytilene to Athens. Alexia, Siddiqa, and Dean are there to say goodbye. As they part, Alexia tells Tareq about Mr. Rogers and relays the same quote that prefaces the book: “Always look for the helpers.” She tells them, “When you think the world is against you, please just take a moment and look for them—the helpers” (256).

On the 12-hour ferry ride, Tareq meets Jamila and Najiba. He learns that a friend of theirs they met in the camps, Muzhgan, was repeatedly raped by her Turkish smuggler before being set free.

After arriving in Athens, the refugees take a bus to the Republic of Macedonia. The border is closed. Tareq meets Dr. Kassem, who was on his boat, and learns that the man has taken the orphaned baby, claiming it as his grandchild. Waiting at the border, Tareq recognizes “helpers” again and again—one man shares some food with him while another offers a spot by his warm fire, and volunteers come through with hot tea. Eventually, the border reopens, but some refugees have died in the cold night—including Dr. Kassem’s wife and the orphaned infant.

In Macedonia, Tareq, Susan, Jamila, Najiba, and Muzhgan are sent to another camp for registration. They go on, taking a series of cold buses and trains through Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Tareq stays in touch with Alexia via text. He notes that he feels like a criminal because of how many treat him—but also acknowledges that he sees the helpers, such as Red Cross volunteers. He also sees friendly people in the countries he passes through: “They smile at us and make us human again after being yelled at by their military and police. They make me remember, every country has good people and bad people. Just like mine” (263). 

Alexia is conflicted. On one hand, she wants to celebrate the refugees who make it; on the other hand, she can’t shake the memory of the many who didn’t. Speaking with Dean, she expresses regret that she can’t do more: “What we’ve done here is just a single drop in the ocean. It’s hard to be satisfied. But you have to remember that there would be no ocean without every drop” (266).

Meanwhile, Tareq and Jamila are facing an impending separation. Tareq sees their budding romance as “a gift from God while trapped in hell” (266). Jamila, Najiba, and Muzhgan board a train to meet Jamila and Najiba’s aunt in Frankfurt. Tareq prays it’s not another permanent goodbye.

He is saddened by the farewell but then distracted by a phone call from his father—except when he picks up the phone, it’s not Fayed but his brother, Salim.  

Tareq and Susan make it to Germany. The German government has placed them in a facility. Susan starts kindergarten and adapts quickly, learning the language faster than Tareq. She no longer brings her doll, Farrah, with her everywhere.

Fayed and Salim are still hoping to reunite with Tareq and Susan. Tareq learns Salim’s story. After the bombing, Salim was treated in a different hospital from the rest of the family. Daesh then recruited him. Eventually, he escaped.

Jamila and Najiba are in Frankfurt, waiting to hear if they will get asylum. Muzhgan is at a facility for minors. Without counseling, she remains terrified.

Musa remains in Turkey. He found a decent job and plans to ask Shayma to marry him. He is eager to join her family since his own parents are dead.

Germany is safer for Susan and Tareq, but not perfect. Refugees like them are often met with suspicion. Tareq can’t blame the German people for being afraid, as he shares their fear: There have been terror attacks in Paris and reports of sexual assaults on New Year’s Eve in various German cities.

Destiny ends the epilogue, reminding the reader that Tareq’s new life as a refugee is only beginning—and that he is one of millions. Destiny concludes: “I hope you will provide that warmth, be that helper, do what you can to make that world a better place. Because when I meet you—and I will—there will be a reckoning. There always is” (272).