As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

Kenan blushes at Salama’s talk of arranged marriage, and admits her deduction is correct. In a flashback, Salama remembers hanging out with Layla, her mother insisting she bake a knafeh (a Middle Eastern pastry), though Salama didn’t understand why. Before Kenan and his parents could arrive, a bomb struck their house, killing Salama’s mother. Salama suppresses the memory and thinks, “I’m hiding in the house of the boy I might have married. Might. What a word. It holds infinite possibilities of a life that could have been.” (83). She wonders if she and Kenan would have been engaged had the war not happened.

As Salama and Kenan discuss their families and feel more connected, she admits she’s leaving to suppress their budding romance. Kenan is shocked, arguing that they’re fighting for Syria’s freedom; he can’t leave because he films videos of the war and uploads them to YouTube to get help. He feels responsible for his country, and though Salama feels similarly, she is now putting her survival first. She tries to convince Kenan to think of his family’s safety, but he chooses to stay. Since the snipers keep shooting, Salama stays the night at his house.

The next morning, Salama is excited and slightly aghast that she stayed at a boy’s house; in Muslim culture, only married couples do such a thing. After checking on Lama, she gathers her things, with Kenan laughing at her seriousness. With no snipers about, he walks her home. They discuss leaving again, with Salama worried that he and his family will perish. Though they discuss their guilt, she insists leaving is the best option. Once at Layla’s door, she suggests Kenan come to the hospital to record people’s stories, and he agrees.

Inside, Layla teases Salama for blushing. They giggle about Kenan, with Salama admitting he was once her marriage candidate. Layla is giddy for her, though Salama tries to suppress her feelings since Kenan won’t be leaving with them. Layla insists she find happiness in Syria before they leave. She also makes Salama say aloud that she’s not doing anything wrong by leaving. With Layla’s support, she feels better, though she reminisces about her “might” life with Kenan.

At the hospital, Salama finds Am, who visits daily to see if he can find would-be refugees. She asks if he’ll accept gold as payment, but he refuses. She pleads with him, citing Layla’s pregnancy again, but he doesn’t care. Salama says she’ll find a way to get him money.

Khawf hovers over Salama while she works her shift. While she helps people and daydreams about Kenan, he warns her to protect her heart. Khawf believes if she gets involved with Kenan, she will want to stay in Syria, which risks her life. He reminds Salama of Hamza and her duty to Layla and her unborn niece. She repeats flower names and their healing properties to calm herself from Khawf’s torment, but he warns her again.

The next day, Dr. Ziad is happier than usual, since he received a medicine shipment. Salama is grateful as well, working to stock the shelves. Dr. Ziad asks how she’s eating and sleeping, and she insists she’s fine. As she works, Kenan arrives with his video camera. Salama shows him around the hospital, pointing out different patients, medicines, and devices. They pause at the babies’ room, full of incubator babies and injured newborns. Some have family, but others will go to the orphanage. The pair discuss the horrors of war, though Kenan says the dictatorship (the government) can’t own his fears. Salama is inspired by him, but cautions that they’ll all face the same fate: death or imprisonment.

Shooting victims rush into the hospital, including Am. He’s frantic, carrying his daughter Samar. Salama hurries to help the victims while Kenan records others. Khawf touches her forehead, and she experiences a terrible thought. He whispers for her to “do it.”

Across the room from Kenan, Salama takes Am and Samar to a hospital bed. Samar’s neck was nicked by a bullet; she will bleed out if Salama doesn’t hurry, but she uses Samar as collateral for a boat. With her hands on Samar’s injury, she tells Am to give her a boat or she won’t treat Samar. Am is furious, but gives in. Salama stops the bleeding and stitches Samar’s neck wound.

Afterward, Salama negotiates a new price for her and Layla’s safe passage: 2,000 dollars and gold jewelry. Am reluctantly agrees because she won’t give him painkillers for Samar otherwise. He calls her heartless and threatens to tell Dr. Ziad, but Salama doesn’t back down. They come to an agreement, but Salama is appalled at her actions. Khawf comforts her, trying to absolve her sin because she did what was needed to survive. She prays no one saw her immoral act and wonders if Layla would understand.