My heart is heavy tonight. I wanted to sit down and write an “update” on my conversation with Asmaa which occured sometime around noon on Tuesday, July 29. I didn’t get to do it sooner as I had a meeting in NYC.

As the news flooded my phone, I watched as Israel continued its massacre, killing 128 people in a matter of NINE hours. I’ve been very anxious all day and couldn’t wait to get home.

I picked up the phone just now and dialed. Only to be sent to a voicemail recording in Arabic. Three times, three times into voicemail. From other fb friends and twitter, I found out that Tal-Alhwa had a home targeted and leveled to the ground, about an hour ago. Not too far away, from where my family has sought shelter.

It scares me to think about it, but Israel doesn’t just bomb ONE home and move on, they destroy WHOLE cities and neighborhoods and murder families…while they sleep. And I think about how many they have murdered tonight. I shiver. (sigh)

I can’t write tonight, or post, or think… until I can hear their voices again. I am sitting outside on my veranda, listening to a bird dream tonight. It sounds like short hums from a child’s breath. I wish I were in Asmaa’s place and she in mine. If only I could relieve her from the violence, or just this night, for a moment, to feel peace and listen to the dreams of the bird in the tree above me.

I only wonder, what she is dreaming and if she is sleeping at all.